Despite the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, overall exports of agricultural commodities have maintained a steady rise as the exports rose by 16.13 per cent. The total value of the export of such products stands at Tk 905.99 crore in July-May period of the current fiscal (FY2020-21).
Farm exports’ value was Tk 780.16 crore during the corresponding period in 2019-20 fiscal, according to the latest data of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
“The consistent and concerted efforts of the government to boost agricultural exports are bearing fruit as the exports of the commodities are on the rise despite the ongoing Covid-19 crisis,” said a commerce ministry official.
Positive growth was recorded in export of tea, tobacco, spices, dry food and others during the July-May period of FY2020-21 from over the last fiscal year. But vegetable exports witnessed a negative growth during the period mainly due to suspension of flights amid Covid-19, sources said.
During the period, export of tea witnessed a 15.12 per cent rise and the country earned US$3.35 million against $2.81 million in the FY2019-20.
The export of tobacco rose by 11.43 per cent and stood at US$80.33 during July-May period of FY2020-21 against US$72.09 million in FY2019-20.
The export of spices rose by 30.86 per cent and earned US$ 39.14 million during the period against US$29.91 million in FY2019-20.
During the July-May period of FY2020-21, dry food export rose by 51.23 per cent and stands at US$260.82 million against US$172.47 million of FY2019-20 while export of other agricultural products rose by 22.67 per cent and earned US$430.14 million against US$350.66 million in FY2019-20.
The agri-products are mainly exported to the United Arab Emirates, China, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Belgium, Brazil, Australia, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Russia, Austria, Benin and Bahrain.
Meanwhile, the government is working on preparing an action plan for boosting outbound shipments of the country's agricultural products.
A move is underway to form a national committee, steering committee and subcommittee to make the plan ready.
It was decided in a meeting organised by the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) under the Ministry of Agriculture with its Director General (DG) Mohammad Yousuf in the chair.
Representatives from the sectors concerned including Bangladesh Fruit, Vegetable and Allied Products Exporters' Association (BFVAPEA) were present in the meeting.
The action plan would focus on a long-term target to further increase exports of agricultural goods, the officials said.
The government had identified agriculture as a priority sector in the current export policy. But it was not possible to export vegetables and fruits despite their surplus production in the country due to existing complexities, the documents read.
