Vegetables exports plummet 50% in 9 months

Vegetables exporters of Bangladesh are feeling the pinch of the Covid-19 pandemic more than many other sectors.

The latest data released by the Export Promotion Bureau shows that the country earned less than $74 million from export of vegetables in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, down by nearly 50 percent from the same period a year ago.

And, the export figure was way behind the target set by the government at the beginning of the fiscal year. Export target was set at $230 million for 2020-21, but the nine months’ trend showed it would be very difficult to earn $100 million.

Exporters blamed the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has forced to suspend international flights around the world, including Bangladesh.

“We used to export vegetables in cargo flights, which remained suspended for most of the time since the outbreak of coronavirus early last year,” Mohammad Monsur, general secretary of Bangladesh Fruits Vegetables and Allied Product Exporters’ Association, told the Business Insider Bangladesh.

His export was down by nearly 70 percent so far this fiscal year and he expects a further slump as the second wave of the virus hit the country.

According to the association, there are around 200 vegetable exporters in the country, 90 percent of them are small exporters who have been hit hard by the ongoing pandemic.

“We did not get any loan from the government-announced stimulus packages. Banks say we are not entitled for the loan,” a frustrated Monsur said.

Middle East countries and Europe are the main markets for Bangladesh’s vegetables. Main export products include brinjal, teasle gourd, cucumber, bean etc.

Bangladesh earned $164 million from export of vegetables in 2019-20 despite the last quarter of the year was gone into the Covid-19 pandemic.