Shawdesh Desk:

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Monday said Bangladesh is among the top ten countries in global fruit production.

The fruit production rate in Bangladesh increased by 11.5 per cent in a year and the country achieved the second position in jackfruit production, seventh in mango production, eighth in guava, 11th in papaya, he said.

Razzaque was speaking at a view-exchange meeting with the journalists on the occasion of National Fruit Fair-2022, held at the Secretariat.

A three-day National Fruit Fair-2022 will begin on June 16 at Krishibid Institution in the capital and it will end on June 18, he said.

The theme of this year’s National Fruit Fair-2022 is ‘Cultivating fruits round the year ensures money & nutrition’. The fair will remain open from 9 am to 9 pm every day.

People can purchase chemical-free fruits from the fair.

Currently, Bangladesh is producing 72 varieties of fruit, up from  56 in the previous year, said the minister.

In 2008-2009, nearly one crore tonnes of fruits were produced in the country but now it has increased to 1.22 crore tonnes, he said adding the fruit production growth is 22 per cent in the last 12 years.”

Mentioning that Bangladesh government is working to ensure safe and nutritious food for all, Razzaque laid importance on cultivation and increase the production of fruit to meet the demand of nutrition.

Nowadays, the demand of fruit for an adult person per capita in 200 grams but the available supply of it is 85 grams, he said.

He also urged the fruit growers to produce strawberry, rambutan, dragon and avocado fruits alongside the local variety of fruits. Besides, the authorities concerned are working to expand the cashew nut and coffee cultivation in the hilly and northern parts of the country, he added.

In 2020-21 fiscal years, 790 metric tonnes of mango and eight tonnes of litchi were exported and 85% fruits including apple, malta and grapes were also imported in the country, said Razzaque.