In an encouraging development, tomatoes from Bagerhat have been exported to Malaysia for the first time, bringing much-needed relief to local farmers struggling with plummeting prices and an oversaturated domestic market.

So far, 40 metric tonnes of tomatoes have been shipped, with another 26 metric tonnes set to follow in the coming days.

A Lifeline for Farmers Amid Market Saturation

As the winter season comes to an end, tomato farmers in Bagerhat have been facing serious difficulties in selling their produce due to an oversupply in local markets.

Many growers had even stopped harvesting, leaving ripe tomatoes to rot in their fields, as prices fell drastically.

But the recent export initiative has rekindled hope, offering them a fair price and an opportunity to sustain their livelihoods.

“This is a major breakthrough,” said Faisal Ahmed, a young entrepreneur spearheading the export drive. “We plan to expand this initiative and export other vegetables from Bagerhat soon.”

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High-Yield Varieties Chosen for Export

Several high-quality tomato varieties—Bahubali, Beautiful-2, Bipul Plus, PM-1220, and Mintu Super—are being exported, as they are known for their superior taste and texture.

A visit to key tomato-producing upazilas, including Bagerhat Sadar, Chitalmari, Mollahat and Fakirhat, revealed fields and fish enclosures brimming with ripening tomatoes.

Despite the abundant harvest, many farmers were forced to abandon parts of their crops due to rock-bottom prices.

Plummeting Prices Leave Farmers Struggling

In local markets, tomatoes are selling at Tk 8–10 per kg in retail, while wholesale prices have plummeted to Tk 4–5 per kg—making it unprofitable for many farmers to continue harvesting.

Madhab Mondal, a farmer from Shyampur village in Chitalmari, said he cultivated tomatoes on three bighas of land but was unable to sell them at a viable price.

“Ripe tomatoes are rotting in the fields. This season, I am facing huge losses,” he lamented.

Similarly, Shailen Nath from Charbaniari village said he initially sold tomatoes at Tk 50–60 per kg, but prices have since collapsed to Tk 3–4 per kg.

“At this rate, I can’t even cover labour costs for harvesting. Many farmers are losing interest in growing tomatoes,” he added.

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Export Initiative Offers a Ray of Hope

The export initiative is proving to be a game-changer.

Helal Uddin Molla, a farmer from Garfa village in Mollahat, initially struggled when prices dropped to Tk 5–6 per kg.

With the new export opportunity, he is now selling his produce at Tk 12 per kg to Faisal Ahmed’s team.

“This is the first time our tomatoes are being sent abroad. Many farmers in our area are hopeful again,” he said.

Export Process

The export effort is being led by Faisal Ahmed, founder of Madhumati Agro & Nursery. Working with two domestic buyers, his team collects tomatoes from farmers in Mollahat, Chitalmari, and Fakirhat, before packing and transporting them to Chattogram port. From there, they are shipped to Malaysia in refrigerated containers to maintain freshness.

Ahmed noted that while local market rates remain low, exporters are offering Tk 12–13 per kg—ensuring fair profits for farmers.

Since January 25, 40 metric tonnes of tomatoes have already been exported, with another 26 metric tonnes scheduled for shipment by Wednesday.

The first batch consisted of sweet tomatoes, while the upcoming consignment includes slightly tangy varieties.

Looking ahead, Ahmed plans to expand exports to include pointed gourd, bottle gourd, hyacinth beans, and taro stolons from Bagerhat.

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Agriculture Officials See a Bright Future

Shankar Kumar Majumder, Deputy Director of Bagerhat’s Department of Agricultural Extension, confirmed that the exported tomatoes passed all quality checks before being cleared for shipment.

“This is a great opportunity for our farmers,” he said. “If exports continue, more growers will benefit, and tomato cultivation in Bagerhat will expand.”

With global markets now opening up for Bagerhat’s produce, farmers are hopeful that this initiative marks the beginning of a more sustainable and profitable future.