In a bid to reduce dependency on imports and save foreign exchange, Bangladesh is now producing a wide variety of foreign fruits locally.
The country’s land is very fertile for producing exotic fruits like avocado from Mexico, dragon fruit from Thailand and Vietnam, mulberry from China and strawberry typically grown in colder climate.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), foreign fruits worth around Tk 12,000 crore are being produced on approximately 11,000 hectares of land every year.
This significant shift in agriculture has not only increased fruit production but also made these fruits accessible to the middle class people and available at nearby shops.
The DAE data showed that 72 varieties of fruits are currently grown in Bangladesh, nearly half of them are foreign varieties. Among them, eight are being produced commercially with the market value of approximately Tk 12,000 crore.
Among these fruits, rambutan from Southeast Asia, avocado from Mexico, small variety of coconut from
Vietnam, Chinese mulberry, longan, persimmon, Thai safeda from Mexico, jabuticaba from Middle East, sweet lemon, and sweet tamarind are now being cultivated locally.
The government's initiative to produce foreign fruits aims to cut import dependency and save dollars. The data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) shows that from January to mid-June this year, foreign fruits, including date, grape, orange, pears and apple, worth over Tk 4,800 crore have been imported from different countries.
A significant growth in dragon output illustrates the success and potential of the country's dragon fruit business. The country is now self-sufficient in dragon fruit production. Its cultivation started in 2007. Exports of dragon fruit have officially started with regular shipments to Sweden and Finland.
“Our dragon fruit is in high demand in the European market,” Dr. Mehdi Masud, Project Director at DAE, told Bangladesh Post recently.
President of Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association Sirajul Islam said that once they used to import dragon fruit, but now they are exporting it. “Malta is also showing promise as an exportable fruit.”
Despite huge success, fruits like date, pears, and apple—among the most in demand—are still not produced locally. Even if grape and orange are cultivated, their quality does not meet high standards. Researchers suggest that instead of relying solely on import of seedlings or seeds, efforts should be made to adapt the local environment and climate for growing these fruits.
Speakers at a recent workshop organised by Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) in the city have suggested that ensuring the availability of high-quality seeds through proper seed conservation training for farmers could boost crop production by 10 percent.
“If we focus on climate-friendly farming through research, we can achieve great success,” said Professor Dr. FM Jamal Uddin of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University.
