Bangladesh ranks seventh among mango producing countries. It is not just in terms of quantity that it has become the king of fruits in the country. Mango is the main commercial agricultural product of at least six districts. Mango is now cultivated on a commercial basis in 22 districts. Despite so much production, Bangladesh is at the bottom of exports. Exporters say that exports have decreased due to the abnormal increase in airfares. Foreign buyers are not willing to buy mangoes at such high prices.
News from the Daily Samakal.
Apart from this, one of the problems in mango exports is the lack of exportable improved mangoes. Local mango varieties have a short life span and spoil quickly. Due to the practice of standard agricultural methods, lack of international standard packaging, lack of coordination in creating new markets, and the branding crisis of Bangladeshi mangoes in the international market, exports have not been successful. In this situation, the government is taking various initiatives to increase mango exports and is looking for new markets. The Ministry of Agriculture wants to set a record in mango exports by producing mangoes while maintaining quality standards. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was recently signed with China. Next week, 50,000 tons of mangoes will be exported to China.
Experts say that transportation costs are lower in China than in other countries. As a result, if mangoes can be produced while maintaining quality, the country can become a huge potential market with low transportation costs.
Record in production, miserable condition in exports
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, about 1.5 million tons of mangoes are produced in the country annually, with a market value of about 10,000 crore taka. In the current season, 2.7 million tons of mangoes have been produced on about 2,500,034 hectares of land. Mango planting has already started in various districts. In the 2016-17 fiscal year, 2,143,000 tons of mangoes were produced. Of this, only 309 tons were exported. In 2019-20, the country produced about 2.5 million tons of mangoes, but 283 tons were exported. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, 2,350,499 tons of mangoes were produced; 1,757 tons were exported. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, production was 2.77 million tons; 3,100 tons were exported. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, production was 2.58 million tons; 1,321 tons of mangoes were exported.
Exporters say that perishable export products are being ignored while giving priority to ready-made garments. The government can impose conditions on foreign aircraft to allocate specific space for perishable export products. If this is done, there would be a kind of obligation in taking these products.
In addition to this facility of aircraft, exporters want additional incentives. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank has set new incentive rates for 43 export products for the 2024-25 fiscal year. These include agricultural products, including fruits. The new incentive rate has been set at 10 percent, which was 15 percent in February last year.
The fare on the Dhaka-London route was Tk 184 to Tk 243 per kg in February last year, which has increased to Tk 486 currently. Similarly, the fare for transporting mangoes to Canada has increased from Tk 333 to Tk 625 per kg. Currently, the fare for sending per kg of fruit to Europe is Tk 350-380 and Tk 200-220 to the Middle East.
Mango exporter and owner of Global Trade Link, Razia Sultana, said that countries like India, the Philippines, and Thailand use separate cargo flights for mango exports, whereas Bangladesh depends on passenger flights. The packing house has been set up in Shyampur, and the products have to be sent from the airport. However, both needed to be in the same place. This would have reduced the cost.
Bangladesh wants to make China a new destination for mango exports
While air fares are high in other countries, the cost of sending fruit to China is much lower; Tk 70-85 per kg. Dhaka expressed interest in mango exports during Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus’ recent visit to China. China also expressed a positive attitude in this regard.
On April 28, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen visited an exportable mango orchard in Kendua Ghasura area of Nachol upazila of Chapainawabganj. At that time, he said that an MOU has already been signed between the two countries. China is interested in buying at least 1.5 million tons of mangoes for export from Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian said at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy after a meeting with Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday that Bangladesh will export about 50 tons of mangoes to China for the first time on May 28. Plans are being made to increase mango exports by analyzing country-specific statistics. Discussions are underway with the Civil Aviation Authority on cargo flight arrangements to reduce air fares.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is implementing a five-year ‘Exportable Mango Production Project’ from July 2022 to increase mango exports. Mohammad Arifur Rahman, director of the project, said that regular communication is being made with farmers. There is no obstacle in mango exports so far this year.
Anwar Hossain, vice chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau, said that the government is taking the initiative to export 120,000 tons of mango to China. 10 hot water treatment plants will be set up in Chapainawabganj. The ‘Mango Board’ will be formed, policies will be formulated, modern processing facilities will be provided, low-cost solar panels will be distributed to farmers, cargo facilities will be launched from Rajshahi Airport, agricultural EPZ will be formed, packing houses, hot water treatment plants will be set up, and entrepreneurs will be provided assistance in exporting processed products from mangoes.
Qatar is overcoming obstacles in fruit exports
The Middle Eastern country is showing potential in increasing mango exports. To that end, the Bangladesh Embassy has organized a week-long fruit fair on June 25 at Souq Waqif, the famous commercial area of Dohar, the capital of Qatar. 60 stalls will be present with Bangladeshi mangoes, litchis and jackfruit. Empiric Research Limited is working in Bangladesh as a partner in organizing the fair.
Sohel Rana, Executive Director of Empiric Research, said that the fair will open new horizons for the export of mangoes and other agricultural products to Qatar. All renowned institutions of Qatar will come to the fair. As a result, the country’s businessmen will establish direct contact with the buyers there.
