Bangladesh: Exports of fruits, vegetable fall
The government put a ban on exporting several vegetable items and fruits. Restrictions on exports of fruits and vegetables in some cases resulted in the fall in the exports.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), vegetables worth US$100 million were exported in the 2014-15 fiscal year, compared to US$140 million in 2013-14 fiscal year.
The exports of fruits in the last fiscal year amounted to US38.4m against US$61.8m in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
Shubhashish Basu, vice chairman of EPB, told Prothom Alo that a few consignments of fruits and vegetable were sent back from Europe since they did not have phytosanitary certification.
The agriculture ministry said only registered exporters could export fruits and vegetables. As many are not registered exporters, the number of exporting products has declined as a result.
The European Union (EU) threatened to put a ban on imports of fruits and vegetables from Bangladesh after harmful worm and bacteria were found in those food items.
On 27 April, the department of agricultural extension (DAE) stopped issuing phytosanitary certificates for three types of fruits and vegetables including lemon, red spinach, teasel gourd and bitter gourd.
On 26 June, the EU extended the period of ban on importing betel leaf from Bangladesh for one year.
According to Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA), about 47-48 per cent fruits and vegetables are exported to Europe from Bangladesh. The EU’s embargo has affected the overall exports of the fruits and vegetables.
A number of Bangladeshi exporters said European importers used to order vegetables such as cucumber, aborigine with betel leaf. They are switching to other countries as betel leaf import from Bangladesh has been banned.
The government has imposed restrictions on exports of aborigine, teasel gourd, bitter gourd and snake gourd.
Formalin-laden fruits and vegetable left a negative impact on exports.
However, litchi and mango exports were quite good.
BFVAPEA president SM Jahangeer Hossain said a lack of space in cargo and additional expenses in exporting products by air shipment are the reasons behind the decline in fruits and vegetable exports.
He said Bangladesh Biman charges Tk 180 for one kilogram vegetables while foreign airlines charges Tk130-132.
Source: en.prothom-alo.com
