Mango exports are booming as the tasty summer fruit of Bangladesh has gained huge demand and popularity in Europe, Middle East and other countries of the world.
Agriculture ministers, economists and exporters have expressed the hope that the growth trend will continue in the coming days.
Export promotion Bureau (EPB) has set a target to export 5,000 tonnes of mango this year. Until now, the country has earned Tk 50 crore by exporting 1,200 tonnes of mango.
The exporters are hoping that more than Tk 200 crore will come to the country from mango exports if the targeted amount is exported from the country.
President of Bangladesh Fruits and Vegetable Exporters Association SM Jahangir Hossain told Bangladesh Post, “The demand for mango has really increased in the world market. Government’s several initiatives have been creating better opportunity for mango export.”
However, he urged the authorities concerned to allow mango export through seaways and remove hurdles of scanners at the airport.
As mango export through air is expensive, exporting mango through waterways will make the country more competitive.
He said, “If we can resolve the existing issues at our airport we can certainly increase our mango exports and compete other Asian countries.”
EPB export statistic showed that, Bangladesh exported USD 10,000 worth of mangoes to Singapore during July-September of the last financial year. In the current financial year, mango has been exported to more than 14 countries in Asia and Europe besides Singapore.
It is to be noted, the country has exported only 100 tons of mango back in 2019 season, each tonne at a rate of USD 4,800, earning was more than Tk 4.11 crore. The following year, in the 2020 season, export has jumped to 1700 tonnes and earning stood at more than Tk 70.01 crore.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), mango production in the country is about 2.4 million tons. Mangoes worth around Tk 14,000 crore are traded every year. From mango production to marketing, packaging and transportation, a huge market has developed.
Mangoes start coming in the market from the month of April and continue till the end of September with the end of Ashwina Mango.
According to the officials of the department, the production of mango is increasing at the highest rate every year in the country. As a result, opportunities for mango export have been created by meeting the demand of the country.
Agriculture minister Dr. Abdur Razzque about mango export earlier said, “We want to take the country's mango to the world market. Identify the export barriers, we are working to remove them. Work is already underway to set up three vacuum heat treatment plants to ensure safe mangoes preservation. The implementation of good agricultural practices has started to keep mangoes safe from production to shipment. Work is underway to issue Phytosanitary Certificates.”
According to Bangladesh Fruits and Vegetable Exporters Association, about 100 mango gardens of Satkhira, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Dinajpur have been clustered and mango cultivation has been started in groups with the initiative of the association ahead of next season. Farmers are being trained. The mangoes that will be produced in these orchards will be exported only.