Bangladesh is the world’s third largest grower of vegetables with an annual production of 19.7 million tons, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said on Monday.
The minister said this after inaugurating the three-day National Vegetable Fair at city’s Krishibid Institution Bangladesh.
He said, “We are tirelessly working to boost production of safe and nutritious food in the country and as a result the vegetable production has increased seven fold in the last 12 years.”
The minister said in a seminar held later, “There is a concern over price hike of vegetables ahead of the month of Ramadan but I can assure that prices will not go up this year unless any natural disaster occurs.”
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Replying to a question Razzaque said there are some complications regarding the distribution of the vegetables due to transportation, extortion, intermediary issues.
“If we can solve these issues, a fair price of vegetables will be ensured. Law enforcing forces, the ministry of commerce all will have to work together to keep the prices within buying capability of the masses," said Razzaque.
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The minister said Bangladesh has huge possibilities in vegetable export and soon it will become one of the main sources of earning foreign exchange.