After one and a half years, export of five vegetable items from Bangladesh is finally going to resume next week. The sector insiders see it as a big boost in diversifying the country's limited export basket.
Following withdrawal of a 'self-imposed restriction' by the state-run Plant Quarantine Wing (PQW), the export of snake gourds, ladies finger, ridge gourds, green amaranth (pui shak) and jute plant (paat shak) is going to resume, said traders.
Several traders are preparing their respective shipments of the summer vegetables to the Middle East and the EU countries, according to Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Product Exporters Association (BFVAPEA).
Md Sharifur Rahman Shaurav, proprietor of Shohan Enterprise, told the FE that PQW stopped permitting export of the vegetables one and a half years back to ensure their risk-free shipments abroad.
Later, the entrepreneurs concerned and the government's agri wings worked a lot regarding the matter.
Subsequently, hundreds of traders started growing vegetables through their contract growers by maintaining good agri practices (GAP) as per the EU countries' requirements.
PQW now thinks that the vegetables thus produced are risk-free and suitable for shipment, he also said.
"I've received order for supplying two tonnes of vegetables, including snake gourds, ladies finger and green amaranth, which will be shipped on March 21."
However, Mr Sharif said prices of the summer vegetables will be much higher following their rocketing prices in the domestic market and high freight charges.
"Per kg of summer veggie will cost us Tk 336-365 (£ 2.90-3.15), including the fright charges. The UK buyers are hardly offering £ 3.00-3.20 for per kg of the vegetables."
Bangladeshi exporters are paying about 50 per cent higher freight charges than those of India, Thailand and other countries, he added.
Mohammad Mansur, general secretary of BFVAPEA, told the FE that the export of the items is going to start at a time when Biman Bangladesh Airlines has resumed direct cargo transportation on Dhaka-London route after two years.
The resumption of direct cargo movement between Dhaka and London might reduce fright charges to some extent and thus boost export of agri items in the coming days.
The country's vegetable export dropped to $80 million in the fiscal year (FY) 2016-17, compared to $104 million in FY 16. Bangladesh fetched a record amount of $148 million in FY 14 through export of vegetables, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
