Bangladesh: Potential strawberry export
Deputy director at the horticulture wing under the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Md Rafiqul Hasan told the FE that strawberry farming was expanded to more than 2,000 hectares of land in 2014, which was less than 100 hectares six years back.
Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Jessore and Kustia agricultural regions are supplying the major share, he said.
Assistant General Manger (Marketing) at the state-run Hortex Foundation, Mr Mitul K. Saha told the FE that the country's annual production of strawberry reached 30,000 tonnes.
The country has the potential to produce more than 0.2 million tonnes if at least 12,000-13,000 hectares of land could be brought under farming, he said.
Mr Mitul said his foundation is going to conduct feasibility study on strawberry export as the fruit has a great demand in the Middle-East, the EU, Canada and the US.
Bangladesh Agro Products Producers and Manufactures Association director Mohd Ishaqul Hossain Sweet said that strawberry of normal variety can be sold at $4,000-$4,500 per tonne in the global market.
"Bangladesh has the potential to produce organic strawberries, which could be sold at more than four times than that of normal ones," he said.
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