Bangladesh is among the top 20 banana producing countries in the world with its production hitting 826,000 tons, amounting to a market value of $122 million in fiscal year 2020-21. Still, there are very few options for consumers in the country to find safe and branded bananas, because, unlike other products, the concept of branded bananas has not taken firm root in the country up until now.
That is why a group of innovative Dhaka-based agribusinesses met on June 7 with three farmer-based enterprises and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) at a city hotel to expand the market for safe and branded bananas intended for Bangladesh's high-end market.
Seven organizations planned to undertake four distinct innovations across the banana supply chain: 1) use of fruit bags, 2) provision of pathogen free banana plantlets, 3) safe ripening, and 4) use of contract farming agreements. Integration of these four innovations is supported as part of the USAID-supported Bangladesh Feed the Future Bangladesh Horticulture, Fruits, and Non-food Crops Activity.
Under this partnership, leading Bangladeshi agricultural technology organizations in the private and public sector will produce pathogen free plantlets for the three farmer-based organizations.
Source: dhakatribune.com