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Bangladeshi agri-products have good prospects in the UK, USA, Europe and the Middle East. But the quantity of export of agri-products to these destinations so far has been far below the potential. One of the main reasons for this situation is the lack of appropriate investment in developing agri-industries. The government lately appears to have become conscious that the country enjoys a comparative advantage in exporting much greater amounts of products derived from agriculture. It has declared agri-exports a thrust area. Some positive results have already been achieved from the policy though a great deal more remains to be done to fully pave the way for the take-off of this sector. Substantial investments have to be made for the creation of storage capacities, improving of transportation mediums, building of marketing networks and disseminating of knowledge for optimum and quality production of agricultural products having export prospects.
It is thought at the expert level that Bangladesh should go for diversification and growth of high value crops to notably increase its earnings from agriculture. For example, there is enough scope in the country to grow and export mushroom, broccoli, baby corn, French beans, gherkin, capsicum, orchids and other ornamental plants. All of these, which have higher, export value and ample export market can be grown at the level of the ordinary farmers. The government's policies must be coordinated to give a boost to agri-industries.
Shafique Ahmed
Twin Tower, Shantinagar, Dhaka
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