Country imports 1.58m kg fruits every day

Bangladesh imports about 1.58 million kilograms of fruit every day, according to statistics of Bangladesh Bank.

Imported fruits account for Tk 10 billion annually.

In the financial year of 2014-15, some 1 million kg fruits were imported while this increased to 1.27 million in 2015-16 and 1.57 million kg in 2016-17.

The majority of the imported fruits are apples, grapes, malta (manadrins), and pomegranate.

Although the production of fruits is increasing locally, this can't meet the local demand, agriculturists said. The demand for local fruits is also increasing, they added.

Papayas and bananas are grown throughout the year. Despite that, the supply of local fruits falls between January and September.

During this period, a limited number of fruits including guava, ‘amra’ and ‘boroi’ are available. As a result imported fruits dominate the local market in the period.

According to Bangladesh Bank, fruits are imported from 46 countries including China, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, France, USA, India, Bhutan, Egypt and South Africa.

Out of the imported fruits, apples top in the list.

In the 2016-17 fiscal, 239 million kg apples were imported.

General secretary of Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association Sirajul Islam told Prothom Alo, "Fruit which are not produced locally, are generally imported. So there is no alternative. There is a demand of foreign fruits throughout the year. But the demand remains high for five months."

According to IndexMundi, Bangladesh is the 7th importer of apple, but Bangladesh stands 18th in terms of consuming apples. China is the top consumer of apples while India stands 5th.

Malta (manadrins) dominate the local market after apples. A total of about 20 million kg maltas enters Bangladesh through sea and land ports.

About 5,50,000 kg maltas are sold and bought every day.

According to IndexMundi, Iraq is 8th importer of malta. Iraq imported 1,90,000 tonnes of malta in the financial year of 2016-2017.

Although Bangladesh imported 1,99,000 tonnes of malta in the period, its name is not included in the list.

Fresh grapes stand in the third position in fruit markets. A total of 2,12,000 kilograms of grapes are purchased every day in the country.

Pomegranates are in the fourth position. A total of 3,18,00,000 kilograms of pomegranates were imported in 2016-17 fiscal.

Oranges are in the fifth notch among imported fruits.

According to businessmen, around 30 per cent imported fruits are sold and bought in Dhaka, 15 per cent in Chittagong, and the remaining 55 per cent across the country.

Deputy director (Fruit and Flowers) of the Department of Agriculture Extension, AKM Monirul Alam, told Prothom Alo that people are still prefer local fruits.

Bangladesh is in the seventh position across the world in mango production and possibly in the first place in jackfruit growing.

Project [fruit production and nutrition around the year] adviser of the Department of Agricultural Extension, SM Kamruzzaman told Prothom Alo that agriculture ministry has taken many steps so that fruit production increases from September to January. Several species of guava, mangoes, jackfruit, and citrus have been planned to grow during this time.

If these fruits come to market, the import of foreign fruits will decrease, he added.

Local fruits have more nutrients than the foreign ones, said Kazi Nazia Sharmin, head of Applied Food Science and Nutrition department, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

She told Prothom Alo fruits should be eaten as fresh as possible. Foreign fruits take a long time to reach consumers and lose many nutrients.

The nutrition expert also said people should keep at least one fruit on their food menu every day.

* This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam and Imam Hossain.