At present, agro products have become the second-biggest export product in Bangladesh. As a result, there are some agro product exporters in Bangladesh also become famous. According to the economists, this sector can emerge more if the government ensures proper policy support and provide necessary intensives. Agriculturists suggest large-scale farming and the use of modern technology to increase this sector.
Present scenario of agro product export in Bangladesh
In 2020-21, Bangladesh first touched the billion-dollar mark by exporting agricultural products. During the Covid pandemic, agro product exporting has increased about 20% from the previous years. In fact, the growth of agro product export has been phenomenal over the previous 12 years. The agriculture sector profit $1,028 million in last year where it was only $122 in 2008-09. According to the Export Promotion Bureau report, agro product export earnings increase almost three times more than 2008-2009.
What factors are behind this growth?
The exported agro-products include tea, tobacco, fresh produce, spices, cut flowers, processed and dry food. Recently the bakery product and ready-to-eat flour-made biscuits have been mainly exported. Even in the EU market, the demand is increased for vegetables and dry food. All of these work well in making this phenomenal growth. According to the official record, processed foods covered more than 81 percent of total agro exports. At present, more than 60 companies in Bangladesh are exporting dry foods, including biscuits, beverages, puffed rice, confectionaries, etc. The leading exporters are Pran, Square, Bombay Sweets, BD Foods, ACI, Ahmed Food, and Sardar Enterprise. Not only dry food, but Bangladesh is also showing a good performance in exporting vegetables.
Challenges of sustaining the growth
Agro products exporters in Bangladesh strongly believe that they can earn more by exporting fruits, vegetables, and other agro products. They demand enough policy support and logistic support for proper shipment. If the government provides some processing and packaging facilities, the exporter may export more products. Besides this, they also need hygienic cargo, a safe packaging house, and more air cargo facilities. On the other hand, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Development Of Agricultural Extention, the exporters have to ensure the quality and need to improve product sanitary to increase the export. However, the export of agricultural products is an up-and-coming industry in Bangladesh. So, both exporters and the government should give the highest emphasis to promoting this business.