Bangladesh's citrus fruit exports yet to rise
Export of citrus fruits from the country is yet to find momentum due to pest infestation, post harvest losses, peak season glut and lack of proper information about both domestic and export markets.
“There is scope for increasing export earnings and more income for the growers by increasing the yield of quality citrus fruits in the country,” said Debashish Chanda, assistant general manager (Marketing) of Hortex Foundation. The foundation facilitates export of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Talking to the news agency, he said climate of Bangladesh is very favorable for growing different varieties of citrus fruits.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, about 120,846 metric tonnes of citrus fruits were produced in the country in 2007-08 on some 6,615 hectares of land.
The main exportable citrus fruits to ethnic markets of Europe and Middle East include various types of lemons and limes like Ada Lebu, Elachi Lebu, Zara Lebu, Kagji Lebu, and “Satkara”.
Chanda observed that export of citrus fruits to the EU market is yet to become stable due to improper cultivation management as well as inability to control diseases.
He said, “Farmers often do not get disease-free saplings while there is very little contact farming of citrus fruits. Farmers often harvest premature and over-mature fruits that result in difficulties to maintain standard size, shape and quality.”
Chanda opined that export quality of the produces deteriorate due to a lack of post-harvest management. “Farmers need to be given training on the subject,” he said.
He said the EU is now looking for procuring citrus fruits from disease-free zones in Bangladesh after it found “canker disease” in fruits exported from certain areas of the country.
To identify the disease-free zones, Hortex Foundation in association with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) visited different citrus fruit fields in some areas of Narsingdi and Sylhet in May-June this year.
Most of the citrus fields in Sylhet were found infected with diseases while the fields of Narsingdi were found disease-free. A EU delegation also visited Bangladesh in June to identify the disease-free zones.
After the visit, Hortex Foundation suggested exporters to collect citrus fruits from Narsingdi and also recommended the Quarantine Department of Khamarbari to issue “Phyto Sanitary Certificate” on citrus fruits from Narsingdi.
Sources at Export Promotion Bureau said fruit and vegetable export is likely to rise in 2009-10 fiscal than in 2008-09, with earnings touching US $64.21 million from export of some 30,000 metric tonnes.
The volume of fruit and vegetable export in the 2008-09 fiscal was 24,670 metric tonnes, earning US$ 50.71 million, while the highest export earnings in the sector was US$ 69.12 million in 2007-08 fiscal with export of 33,626 metric tonnes.
The UK alone accounts for around 45 percent of Bangladesh's total export of vegetables and fruits while the other major exporting destinations are France, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
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