Agro exports may exceed $2b by 2023 if obstacles removed: Experts

Export earnings from agricultural products can surpass $2 billion by 2023 if the present obstacles can be cleared, experts have said.

The Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) jointly made the forecast and published a roadmap to achieve the export target at a programme at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) on Monday.

The experts made some recommendations and said agro exports would reach $1.634 billion in the fiscal year 2021-22 and exceed $2 billion by FY23 if the recommendations were taken into consideration.

A lack of quality seeds and products as well as cooling chambers, hassles in cargo handling at airports, high tariffs and airfares, and airlines’ unwillingness to carry agro products were identified as major problems of agro product exports.

“Seed production activities through tissue culture have to be prioritised. Transportation and cargo services have to uninterrupted as well,” Dr Md Rezaul Karim, head of research cell of BADC, said.

He said a lack of export-friendly and low-quality potato, transportation problems, and high VAT and tax were the main barriers to potato exports.

The roadmap estimated 80,000 tonnes of potato could be exported in 2022, 1.2 lakh tonnes in 2023, 1.8 lakh tonnes in 2024, and 2.5 lakh tonnes in 2025.

DAM Deputy Director Dr Mohammad Raju Ahmed said agro exports have better prospects.

He suggested a separate export-related research cell be set up in all agricultural research organisations.

Besides, foreign seeds have to be imported, trialled regionally, and distributed through the authorities concerned, he said.

“Every airplane should have 20-25 per cent of cargo space allocated for agricultural products. Airfares should also be revised if we want to compete in this competitive market,” he added.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, who attended the programme as the chief guest, said the government was prioritising agro exports as this has a great prospect.

“We are working on removing the barriers to export our agricultural products. The agricultural sector has to be profitable in terms of exports,” he said.

He further said many educated young people were getting involved in this sector, which was a positive sign. “They are doing very well also.”

The minister also said public and private coordination was necessary to improve the agricultural sector.

“We always welcome suggestions from the relevant bodies for improving this sector,” he added.