The northern districts have a reputation for cabbage production. Farmers get disappointed when they do not get a fair price in the harvesting season every year. Sometimes they could not even afford the cost of farming. It has begun to change. Cabbage is now being exported to six countries.
Masawa Agro Limited, one of the leading agro-processing and exporting company’s in the country, is playing a vital role in this export.
They are working on their initiative to provide fair prices to the farmers including agricultural products- potato, sweet pumpkin, cabbage producing, processing and export, the supply of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides and also creating employment opportunities for women. Farmers are getting more encouragement as they are getting fair prices.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the country is producing an average of about 8 million tons of potatoes against the demand of 4 million tons. Of course this is a good sign but unfortunately our farmers are not getting much benefit from it. Besides, farmers often sell it at a very low price as they do not get fair price of potato during harvesting season or store it in cold storage as an alternative in the hope of getting fair price.
Regarding this issue, Arif Azad Prince, Managing Director of Masawa Agro Limited said, “Since 2016, we have been exporting potatoes, sweet pumpkins, and cabbage to various countries including Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, and abroad. So far we have exported 93 containers weighing 1860 metric tons of cabbage. Another 20 containers weighing 400 metric tons of cabbage are in the process for export. Last year, we exported about 12,000 metric tons of potatoes. I hope to be able to export 15,000 metric tons of potatoes this year.”
“Potatoes, sweet pumpkins and cabbages were collected from grassroots farmers in remote areas of Bogra, Joypurhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts of North Bengal. Then we process and package our own and export them. ”
“Exports were being hampered due to lack of adequate pre-cooling system and long delay in transportation of goods. If proper measures are taken in this regard, it is possible to increase the exports manifold” he added. ♦
