Explore new export market for mango
DCCI seminar speakers say
Staff reporter
Workshop on sharing findings of mango stakeholders dialogue, organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and USAIDs Agriculture Value Chains Project (AVC), held at DCCI auditorium in the capital yesterday. DCCI President Abul Kasem Khan was present as chief guest, says a press release.
Director of Consiglieri Private Limited Shibaji Roy made a power point presentation on a recent study on mango stakeholders conducted on behalf of USAID Bangladesh Agriculture Value Chains (AVC). The study was conducted on 150 stakeholders nationwide and 12 mango farmers. Now, most of the farmers do not use calcium carbide or formalin for ripening mango.
He said for ripening mango farmers are now using Ethephon in a judicious quantity which is not harmful for human health. He said in Bangladesh 10 to 30 per cent mango traders use ripening agent. In 2016 only 510 mounds of mangoes were destroyed by the law enforcing agencies, he said.
He also said that for producing export quality mango, we should create awareness among the farmers and encourage them to use modern technology and knowledge. He also suggested for easy bank loan for the farmers so that they could establish mango processing plants. He also said mango harvesting time frame needs to be outlined and mango preservation plants are badly needed in some selected areas.
DCCI President Abul Kasem Khan said Bangladesh is the 7th largest mango producing country in the world with around 1 million ton production. Bangladesh exported about 800 tones of mangos, mainly to the European markets, in 2015, but the amount fell to 300 tons in 2016, he said.
He mentioned Bangladesh needs to adopt safe mango harvesting and mango marketing practices. The DCCI President said a Research and Development platform will be formed under DCCIs initiative soon to conduct and research for the potential sectors of the country.
In his welcome address Md.Shoaib Choudhury, former vice president of DCCI and team leader DCCI-DAI Project said farmers, traders as well as consumers are now more cautious about the harmful pesticides using in fruits specially in mangoes.
He said our mango is very sweet and of good quality and that is why its demand in international market is increasing day by day. He said in many countries there are ripening chamber which we do not have. He also urged the concerned department of the government to facilitate private sector in order to develop mango storage system in Bangladesh. Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Anwar Hossain Khan said that the DAE has formulated an action plan as a guideline for the mango growers, traders and exporters. He said 750 ppm Ethephon as mango ripening agent is safe for human health.
