Bangladesh's agro-processing export earnings have fallen below $1 billion despite a fast-growing global market, speakers at the BAPA Foodpro International Expo said.
The 11th BAPA Foodpro International Expo brought more than 200 brands from 27 countries and over 4,000 technology and machinery solutions to Dhaka.
Speakers at a Jagonews24 roundtable said fruit worth Tk 25,000 to 50,000 crore is wasted every year for lack of processing, and called for coordinated action on marketing, processing and exports.
PRAN Group will honour journalists who report on agriculture and agro-processing with the Bangladesh Agro-Industry Media Award on Saturday.
Indonesia's ambassador to Bangladesh opened PRAN's mango collection and pulping operation at its Barind Industrial Park in Godagari, Rajshahi.
PRAN's Banga Millers Limited has begun procuring aman paddy from farmers in Dinajpur, with a target of 2,750 tonnes.
Buyers at the Pran Mango Fest in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, said they were glad to find mangoes brought straight from orchards and free of formalin.
The Friday holiday brought more visitors and higher sales to the second day of the Pran Mango Fest in Dhanmondi.
The three-day Pran Mango Fest has opened at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi, with 10 stalls selling many varieties of mango until 12 July.
Growers from Bangladesh's famous mango regions brought their own fruit to Pran's Mango Festival, which opened in Dhanmondi on 10 July.
Pran Group said growers from Bangladesh's famous mango regions will sell their own fruit at a three-day Mango Festival in Dhanmondi from 10 July.
Contract tomato farmers and processor Pran warn that the rise in VAT on tomato products from 5 to 15 percent will hurt farmers, jobs, exports and revenue.
Pran-RFL Public School held tree-planting programmes at its campuses in Habiganj and Narsingdi in memory of those martyred in the anti-discrimination student movement.
