[🇧🇩] Can we export our local fruits to friendly countries?

[Saif]

Date of Event: Jun 22, 2025

Source : https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/opinions/popularising-local-fruits

Popularising local fruits

Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Jun 22, 2025 01:07
Updated :
Jun 22, 2025 01:07

Many of the fruits and vegetables grown locally are a storehouse of rich vitamins but largely wasted. Unfortunately many are not aware of it. This is largely due to a lack of awareness and insufficient publicity of their benefits among the public. As most of these local fruits are comparatively inexpensive they also hold the key to raising the nutritional intake of the low-income people. This is a well-known fact and it was once again brought to light at the recently held three-day national fruit festival.

With the theme "Let's eat more local fruits, let's plant fruit trees," the event, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, sought to raise public awareness about the health, environmental, and economic advantages of consuming indigenous fruits. Speaking at the fruit festival, Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury aptly remarked that local fruits often surpass imported varieties in both taste and nutritional value. He urged all to make homegrown produce a staple of their diets to support local farmers as well as reduce dependence on foreign imports and conserve much-needed foreign exchange.

Bangladesh can boast of producing as many as 72 varieties of fruits and ranks among the world's top producers of mangoes, jackfruit, and guavas. Yet, the country still imports around 60 per cent of its total fruit demand, incurring an annual cost of approximately $300 million. To reduce import dependency and ensure the nutritional security of the population, there is a pressing need to popularise local fruits, as a significant portion of their total production goes to waste due to low consumer demand and inadequate preservation facilities.

The value given to imported fruits like apple arises from our habit of giving undue importance to anything foreign. It is the colonial rulers who brought in their own foods, fruits, and cultural practices and popularised them. Unfortunately, a lingering colonial mindset leads many to consider imported fruits superior to native ones. As a result, imported fruits dominate the market year-round. Although the arrival of mango in summer somewhat tips the balance in favour of local fruits for a certain period, most of the other indigenous fruits receive little to no attention from consumers. So, a change in mindset will go a long way.

Nutritionally the local fruits like amloki, kamranga (star fruit), bel (wood apple) and papaya, are richer than foreign fruits. Likewise, green coconut water is far healthier than sugary carbonated drinks. Unfortunately, in the present generation love of fast food and soft drink has been growing. Guests are entertained not with the traditional lemon juice but with one of those ubiquitous well-advertised and well-marketed corporate products like bottled drinks known by various brand names, which are often devoid of any health benefits, if not outright unhealthy.

Health experts have long warned that excessive consumption of fast food contributes to obesity, diabetes, and other lifestyle diseases. In many Western countries where such food trends originated, there is now a growing rejection of these items by catagorising them as "junk food." In contrast, in Bangladesh, fast food continues to gain ground, largely unchallenged. The common people should be steered away from such unhygienic food practices through persuasion and creation of awareness, as that is the only way to do so in a society where freedom of choice and freedom of trade are guaranteed. Besides, the authorities need to encourage the production of local fruits as much as possible. Incentives should be provided in establishing fruit orchards by extending financial and policy support, and ensure adequate storage and marketing facilities. Growers should also be trained in modern marketing techniques.

 

[Saif]

The surprising health benefits of mangoes

Mangoes, often called the "king of fruits," are not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients that contribute to our overall health.

en.prothomalo.com

The surprising health benefits of mangoes
ANIUNB
Published: 29 Jun 2025, 20: 15

Mangoes, often called the "king of fruits," are not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients that contribute to our overall health reports a media outlet.

Nutrition experts say mangoes are rich in polyphenols, vitamins C and A, minerals, and antioxidants, making them highly beneficial for the human body. The high levels of vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants in mangoes help reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system.

Mangoes also contain beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, further enhancing the body's natural defense mechanisms. The significant amount of vitamin A present in mangoes is known to improve vision and prevent dry eyes.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Popularising local fruits

Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Jun 22, 2025 01:07
Updated :
Jun 22, 2025 01:07

View attachment 19095

Many of the fruits and vegetables grown locally are a storehouse of rich vitamins but largely wasted. Unfortunately many are not aware of it. This is largely due to a lack of awareness and insufficient publicity of their benefits among the public. As most of these local fruits are comparatively inexpensive they also hold the key to raising the nutritional intake of the low-income people. This is a well-known fact and it was once again brought to light at the recently held three-day national fruit festival.

With the theme "Let's eat more local fruits, let's plant fruit trees," the event, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, sought to raise public awareness about the health, environmental, and economic advantages of consuming indigenous fruits. Speaking at the fruit festival, Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury aptly remarked that local fruits often surpass imported varieties in both taste and nutritional value. He urged all to make homegrown produce a staple of their diets to support local farmers as well as reduce dependence on foreign imports and conserve much-needed foreign exchange.

Bangladesh can boast of producing as many as 72 varieties of fruits and ranks among the world's top producers of mangoes, jackfruit, and guavas. Yet, the country still imports around 60 per cent of its total fruit demand, incurring an annual cost of approximately $300 million. To reduce import dependency and ensure the nutritional security of the population, there is a pressing need to popularise local fruits, as a significant portion of their total production goes to waste due to low consumer demand and inadequate preservation facilities.

The value given to imported fruits like apple arises from our habit of giving undue importance to anything foreign. It is the colonial rulers who brought in their own foods, fruits, and cultural practices and popularised them. Unfortunately, a lingering colonial mindset leads many to consider imported fruits superior to native ones. As a result, imported fruits dominate the market year-round. Although the arrival of mango in summer somewhat tips the balance in favour of local fruits for a certain period, most of the other indigenous fruits receive little to no attention from consumers. So, a change in mindset will go a long way.

Nutritionally the local fruits like amloki, kamranga (star fruit), bel (wood apple) and papaya, are richer than foreign fruits. Likewise, green coconut water is far healthier than sugary carbonated drinks. Unfortunately, in the present generation love of fast food and soft drink has been growing. Guests are entertained not with the traditional lemon juice but with one of those ubiquitous well-advertised and well-marketed corporate products like bottled drinks known by various brand names, which are often devoid of any health benefits, if not outright unhealthy.

Health experts have long warned that excessive consumption of fast food contributes to obesity, diabetes, and other lifestyle diseases. In many Western countries where such food trends originated, there is now a growing rejection of these items by catagorising them as "junk food." In contrast, in Bangladesh, fast food continues to gain ground, largely unchallenged. The common people should be steered away from such unhygienic food practices through persuasion and creation of awareness, as that is the only way to do so in a society where freedom of choice and freedom of trade are guaranteed. Besides, the authorities need to encourage the production of local fruits as much as possible. Incentives should be provided in establishing fruit orchards by extending financial and policy support, and ensure adequate storage and marketing facilities. Growers should also be trained in modern marketing techniques.

Fruits are very good for health. BD should increase fruit consumption.Moreover, when you want to produce fruit, you grow a tree which is very effective in fighting teething environment issues.

 

[Saif]

Fruits are very good for health. BD should increase fruit consumption.Moreover, when you want to produce fruit, you grow a tree which is very effective in tree plantation.

I am totally in agreement with you.

 

[Saif]

Untapped potential of mango

Our very familiar and favourite summer fruit, mango, has been put in a new light by highlighting its health benefits in recent media reports. People of this part of the world have been cultivating this fruit for at least 4,000 years. So, the people of Bangladesh hardly need to be reintroduced to th

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Untapped potential of mango

SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Jun 30, 2025 22:26
Updated :
Jun 30, 2025 22:26

Our very familiar and favourite summer fruit, mango, has been put in a new light by highlighting its health benefits in recent media reports. People of this part of the world have been cultivating this fruit for at least 4,000 years. So, the people of Bangladesh hardly need to be reintroduced to this popular fruit. And they will eat this fruit no matter how many types of micronutrients, anti-oxidants, fibres, vitamins etc., it may or may not contain. But sometimes discovering some great qualities in an otherwise ordinary thing may increase its value to the public. One may recall how the commonplace amloki (botanical name, Phyllanthus emblica), also known in English as Indian gooseberry, became a much sought after medicinal fruit after late Dr Badruddoza Chowdhury, when he was a famous practising physician, praised it (amloki) for its high vitamin-C content. Notably, Dr Chowdhury used to present a popular programme 'Apnar Doctor', on BTV where he popularised Amloki for its many medicinal properties. However, later he turned to politics and became president of Bangladesh (November 14, 2001- June 21, 2002) .

Be that as it may, mango is a different case altogether. Though it cannot be made more popular by singing its praises afresh, some people who earlier were not a great admirer of this fruit may now consider it positively given its health-giving attributes. A report, for instance, says that the vitamin B6 that mango contains improves mood, memory and cognitive function. It also helps manage stress and anxiety as it increases production of serotonin, the so-called 'feel good' chemical in the body that helps regulate many bodily functions, including mood, bowel movements and sleep. To the modern mental health conscious men and women, this is definitely good news. Also called the 'king of fruits', mango may now catch many young people's fancy who would otherwise avoid eating any kind of fruit whether indigenous or foreign.

But more than its health benefits, mango has also been used in the past as part of the so-called 'mango diplomacy' to improve diplomatic ties with neighbouring countries. Diplomacy apart, mango's potential as a foreign currency earner through export is yet to be fully exploited. Though Bangladesh produces some best varieties of mango with their exquisite taste and smell in abundance, it is yet to make its mark as a major mango exporting country with Mexico exporting more than 421,000 tonnes of mango every year. Other mango exporters include Thailand, Brazil, Peru, Netherlands, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Spain and Ecuador.

Obviously, mango's is a competitive international market and the government should keep this in mind while promoting its export overseas.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh produced over 23,50,000 metric tonnes of mango by bringing about 2,03,000 hectares of land under cultivation in FY21. In FY23, the production rose to over 27,00, 000 metric tonnes. However, in the FY24, the total production was over 25,00,000 metric tonnes. Compared to production, the export performance of mango cannot be said to have been very impressive so far. According to a report of this paper, some 3100 tonnes of mango were exported in FY23, but it fell to 1,321 tonnes in FY24. However, Mohammad Arifur Rahman, Project Director of the Exportable Mango Production Project (EMPP) under the DAE, reportedly told the media that the government was going to export 4,000 tonnes of mango within the next three months and that meanwhile some 600 tonnes have been shipped to 25 countries. The largest destination of mango so exported is the United Kingdom (UK), or more particularly, England, the official further informed. Evidently, the main consumers of the exported mango are the members of Bengali diaspora in the UK. Last year, around 1,320 tonnes of mango were exported to 21 countries, it could be gathered. In terms of exported volumes, the major export destinations of Bangladeshi mango include the Middle Eastern countries, Europe, Canada in North America, Singapore and Hong Kong of Soitheast Asia and the Far East.

Bangladeshi mango also needs rebranding to unlock its full export potential.

​

 

[Saif]

Mango processing still a missed opportunity

Astha is a department store near the Chapainawabganj New Market, but it offers no value-added mango products made by local entrepreneurs. Neither does T Mart, another such store at the Belepukur intersection. Even in food shops at the New Market, no such products are available, except for simple m

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Mango processing still a missed opportunity

Mahmudul Islam
Published :
Jul 03, 2025 00:27
Updated :
Jul 03, 2025 00:27

Astha is a department store near the Chapainawabganj New Market, but it offers no value-added mango products made by local entrepreneurs. Neither does T Mart, another such store at the Belepukur intersection.

Even in food shops at the New Market, no such products are available, except for simple mango bars and drinks manufactured by two Dhaka-based conglomerates.

This not only reflects the unavailability of value-added products in the "mango capital" of Bangladesh, but also the country's failure to tap into the full economic potential of the delectable summer fruit.

Blessed with fertile soil and tropical climate, Bangladesh is among the world's top 10 mango-producing nations, with the 2024-25 yield target set at around 2.7 million tonnes.

However, it significantly lags behind its Asian peers, including India, in large-scale commercial mango processing.

"So far, we have focused on the ripe fruit. But the full potential of our mangoes can only be realised by processing them in factories and making a range of value-added products that we can sell all year round," Md Munjer Alam of Chapainawabganj, who became an agripreneur after quitting his lucrative job at a multinational firm in Dhaka in 2018, told The Financial Express.

With around 1,500 varieties, neighbouring India is known as the world's largest mango producer and also has a thriving processing industry.

Well-equipped with advanced manufacturing facilities and state-of-the-art machinery, the industry produces an array of items, such as juice, nectar, squash, jam, jelly, pickle, chutney, candy, ice cream, canned mango slice, yogurt, etc. Aam papad (mango leather) is a popular snack in the country.

Thailand is also a big player in mango processing, with a focus on both domestic and export markets. The Nam Dok Mai variety is very popular both in fresh and processed forms.

The processed products let Thais enjoy the taste of mangoes round the year, while mango sticky rice, a common street food, also appeals to foreign tourists.

There is no official data on the size of the processed mango product market in Bangladesh, but Munjer estimates it at Tk 5 billion, while Pran-RFL Group, one of the largest agro-processors in the country, puts it at Tk 15 billion.

Munjer said the market can grow as big as Tk 150 billion if more processing plants are set up.

According to the international market research firm IMARC Group, the global processed mango product market size was $22.2 billion in 2024 and would reach $36.3 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.16 per cent between 2025 and 2033.

Munjer, managing partner and chief executive officer at Barendra Krishi Udyog, has been hammering the importance and potential of mango processing into policymakers and stakeholders for years, but has seen no substantial progress yet.

He believes investments and initiatives are needed both from the government and the private sector to build a robust processing industry, while the former should play a major role.

Extensive efforts are not needed to create a new market for processed products as the demand is already high both at home and abroad, he noted.

"I have worked with Americans, Egyptians, Sri Lankans, and Europeans for many years here. Instead of eating ripe mangoes, they prefer processed items that they can have as snacks. My business partner lives in Singapore, and the picture is the same there," he said.

Local processing will also reduce product prices and help Bangladesh compete regionally, he explained.

For instance, mango powder made by India's MDH is retailed here at around Tk 1,800-2,000 per kg. However, the production cost before packaging will be only Tk 500 per kg if it is produced locally, he said.

Munjer produces mango powder on a small scale and has sent samples to Greece and South Korea. He also makes dried items, including mango pitha (cake).

He markets and sells his products under the brand name Suddha, which represents safe food, and has an outlet at the Gabtola intersection, not far from the New Market.

The entrepreneur wants to produce the items on a large scale, but that requires a modern factory. Establishing such a facility demands significant capital, which he does not have.

His attempts to secure bank financing have so far been unsuccessful, and he claimed banks are not that interested in lending for this purpose.

However, banks in Chapainawabganj said they are willing to finance any viable mango business, given the borrower meets all the eligibility criteria.

Requesting anonymity, an official of a private commercial bank said they would prefer issuing a loan for an industrial mango venture if the borrower already has a primary business that generates steady cash flow, such as a rice mill.

The primary business will be viewed as better collateral, maximising the chance of the loan being sanctioned and minimising the default risk on the borrower's part, he added.

Accompanied by the director of the Exportable Mango Production Project under the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), an Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation visited Chapainawabganj this May. Munjer showed them his products, and they highly appreciated his venture.

He also told them he needs $100,000, including capital machinery and working capital, to start a large-scale processing factory.

His efforts have also been noticed by the local agriculture authorities. Dr Ashis Kumar Saha, chief scientific officer at the Regional Horticulture Research Station (RHRS) in Chapainawabganj, said some entrepreneurs, including Munjer, have initiated mango processing, which could grow further.

He suggested that entrepreneurs interested in mango processing seek technological support from the Postharvest Technology Division under the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).

"The RHRS is a research organisation. We invent technology. We can also arrange training for entrepreneurs, but we do not provide finance. They should seek that from banks and other sources," he told The Financial Express.

Chapainawabganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary Bankim Chandra Das thinks lack of training is a key reason why mango processing has not flourished in the district.

He said Chapai Agro Industries attempted to store mangoes in cold storage in Moharajpur without proper technical knowledge, but the fruits rotted and had to be dumped eventually.

The risk of loss is high without training and initial losses can demotivate an entrepreneur, he explained.

"Two stalls at this year's trade fair in Chapainawabganj displayed and sold various processed mango products. The success of one entrepreneur will inspire another, and processing will then increase. Even I myself am interested," he told The Financial Express.

Bankim said industrial processing can develop fast if the government provides financial support or bank loans can be availed on flexible terms.

He recently had ripe mango slices processed and packaged in Thailand. "They were very delicious. The taste resembled that of mango bars, yet distinct."

Minimising pre- and post-harvest losses is another major benefit of processing. Mangoes drop from the tree naturally before they are fully ripe, and those usually are not sold in the market. But they can be processed in factories.

Conversely, once collected from the tree, mangoes are in a constant race against time as they are highly perishable. The high yield in the short season creates a glut in the market, which not only often drives down prices but also causes many mangoes to decay, especially those that remain unsold.

If these mangoes are sent to factories in prime condition, this loss can be avoided, said Munjer.

Dr Md Abdul Alim, head of the Department of Food Engineering and Technology at Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh, said the post-harvest loss caused by improper handling, transportation, and other factors is estimated at 25 per cent. He said fresh mangoes provide the highest amount of nutrients, while processing reduces the nutritional value to some degree.

But the extent of reduction is negligible and processing is the only way to have year-round supply of mango in the form of value-added items, he underscored.

"Big companies usually process the cheap varieties, preserving the pulp in drums for months. These mangoes are a bit sour, and various sweetening agents are used while making value-added products," Dr Alim told The Financial Express. He also said the standard of value-added mango items made for mass people in Bangladesh is deliberately kept low. For example, the 250ml mango drink sold for Tk 20-25 contains only 15-18 per cent mango and the rest is artificial pulp that often has cheap starch.

"But this is not harmful to health. If a 250ml juice bottle contains 100 per cent mango, the price will be beyond the affordability of average consumers," added the academic.

Mango has been cultivated on 37,504 hectares of land in Chapainawabganj this season. The yield target is 0.386 million tonnes. Kansat in Shibganj upazila is known as the country's largest mango market.

To Munjer, why the government has not yet taken extensive measures to fully unlock Bangladesh's mango potential through processing is a mystery. But he is optimistic and hopes the situation will change.

"I estimate the local economy in Chapainawabganj will be as large as Tk 200 billion and employ 30,000-40,000 people if the processing industry flourishes here," he asserted.​