Organic tea grower enters Japan

Star Business Report

The country's lone organic tea grower has recently bagged export orders from the quality-conscious Japanese market, opening a new avenue for the local tea sector.

Kazi and Kazi Tea Estate Ltd, which for the first time in Bangladesh ventured into the organic tea business by taking up a project in Panchagarh in 2000, grabbed an order for exporting 4,000 kilograms of tea through a food exposition in Japan in March.

"Demand for organic foods is being created in different areas of the world, which is sure to rise in the coming days," said Kazi Anis Ahmed, director and chief executive officer of Kazi and Kazi, at a press conference, organised by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Dhaka yesterday.

"The order volume is not so big, but the important thing is, we entered the highly sensitive Japanese market with our own brand," he said.

"It has created a new window of opportunity."

The organic tea estate is located over 600 acres of land in Tetulia and capable of producing around 2.4 lakh of tea a year. Each kilogram of organic tea sells at $4-$9 on the global market, depending on quality.

The company sells its products on the international market with the brand name "Tetulia". It is known as "Kazi & Kazi Tea" on the local market.

Before going into international market, Kazi & Kazi was recognised under JETRO's one village one product programme as part of its effort to familiarise the concept among policymakers.

The press conference was organised to make the activities public.

Organic tea is produced through organic method in which chemicals and toxic elements are not used in manufacturing states.

The production of organic tea is around one million kilograms worldwide.

Export earnings from tea stood at $14.89 million in fiscal 2007-08, up 114.55 percent from $6.94 million in 2006-07, according to the Export Promotion Bureau.

Speaking as special guest at the function, Shahab Ullah, vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau, said Bangladesh has also undertaken a one-district-one-product plan and identified few districts to develop certain products in line with Japan's OVOP.

Tomohiro Kinomoto, country representative of JETRO, also spoke.

Strawberry cultivation to make farmers solvent

BSS: Experts at a daylong workshop here today said that strawberry cultivation could make the grassroots farmers financially solvent.

They also said that the growers level extension of strawberry cultivation as well as its higher value could bring a new dimension in the country's agriculture sector.

Referring to the bright prospects of strawberry cultivation in Bangladesh except the coastal districts, the experts called for increased motivation of farmers towards commercial cultivation of this soft red-juicy fruit.

Bangladesh Strawberry Association (BSA) and Plant Breeding and Genetic Engineering Laboratory under the Department of Botany of Rajshahi University (RU) jointly arranged the workshop on "Strawberry Cultivation in Bangladesh" at the RU Senate building.

RU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mamnunul Keramat addressed the opening ceremony as the chief guest with BSA President Sardar Salahuddin in the chair.

The main objectives of the workshop were dissemination of technological ideas about strawberry farming and its marketing process side by side with innovation of ways and means for further expansion of cultivation of this crop.

BSA General Secretary and Professor of the RU Botany department Dr Monzur Hossain, the pioneer of strawberry research and variety innovation in Bangladesh, gave an outline about this fruit and its economic significance.

Professor Dr Rafiul Islam of Botany and Professor Dr Aminul Haque of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension of RU, Professor Sugawera of Yamagata University of Japan and BADC Joint Director Sardar Salahuddin also discussed issues related to strawberry production and its market value.

They said the Gene Engineering Laboratory of the RU Botany department innovated three varieties of strawberry through applying tissue culture method. In the demonstration field's cultivation, they were found suitable for the country's soil and environment.

According to the experts, strawberry is rich in varieties of lifesaving proteins as well as vitamin A, C, and E, folic acid, selenium, calcium, polyfenol, alagic, feralic and kumaric acid and cuertcitin, janthomycin and phytostebol. Some of these nutrients can prevent cancer and AIDS, they said.

Strawberry eyes Tk 10cr a year

Anwar Ali, Rajshahi

A woman works at a strawberry field in Rajshahi. Growers and traders of the fruit are expecting a Tk10 crore annual turnover, as they launch its commercial cultivation this year. Photo: STAR

Strawberry growers and traders in Bangladesh are expecting Tk 10 crore in annual turnover, as they go into its first-ever commercial cultivation this year.
Rajshahi University teacher Dr Manzur Hossain, who developed the fruit nearly a decade ago, expects nearly 25 tonnes of output from about 8.5 acres of land in 45 districts until April.
Growers claim the cultivation of this money-spinning, nutritious, delicious foreign fruit will spin nearly Tk 10 crore worth of trade a year.
“The initial commercial production will meet 50 percent of the gross annual demand for the fruit. At present, the demand for the fruit stands at 50 tonnes,” said Hossain, also the general secretary of Bangladesh Strawberry Farmers Association, which monitors the fruit’s cultivation in the country.
Production will continue to increase significantly from next year, as the growers taste success, he said.
Meanwhile, horticulturist Quamruzzaman in Natore has successfully grown two American varieties of strawberry this year, a major breakthrough in its cultivation. The variety is of optimal weight, better taste and colour.
Each strawberry nearly weighs 75 grams, three times higher than the usual 25 grams. The new varieties are becoming popular, especially among buyers, said Quamruzzaman.
“I have been experimenting on the export quality camarosa and festival varieties for the last few years. This year, it proved to be a success,” he said, adding that each plant bears some 15 fruits with an average weight of 750 grams.
Many young businessmen have taken the fruit to urban markets in Dhaka, cashing in on lofty sales.
Although growers get between Tk 500 and Tk 750 per kilogram, the fruit is sold for Tk 850 to Tk 1300 per kilogram, said people familiar with the matter.
As the fruit gains popularity and cultivation increases, the price will come down, said traders.
“The strawberry trade is quite lucrative as it provides employment opportunities for many,” said ASM Mizanur Rahman, who intends to take a tonne of the fruit to Dhaka from Rajshahi.
“So far, I sold 250 kilograms of the fruit. I also employed several youths to give me a hand at marketing the strawberries. The fruit is receiving good responses in markets,” said Rahman, a private jobholder in Dhaka.
Many are currently involved in collecting strawberries at Tk 650 from the farmers and selling at an average Tk 850 per kilogram.
Dr Hossain of Rajshahi University, who recently travelled to many districts to study the cultivation of the fruit, said it is gaining popularity at a good pace. It is growing best in Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Mymensingh, Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Dhaka and Chittagong.
He said each strawberry plant bears around 250 to 300 grams of fruit and some 6,000 plants can be grown on one bigha of land. A farmer can easily do business worth Tk 6 lakh, by a yield of 2,000 kilograms of fruit on a bigha of land at an expense of Tk 20,000.
“Even if strawberries sell at Tk 100 per kilogram, a farmer can earn Tk 2,00,000,” said Hossain.
M Shamim Ali cultivated strawberry on a small piece of land at Yousufpur, Charghat. He hopes to sell nearly 150 kilograms this season.
“I spent only Tk 9,000 on cultivation and I fetched profits of Tk 1,00,000. I sell 3 kilograms of strawberry per day. I will cultivate it on a bigha next year,” he said.
Sector people said the country meets its current demand of 50 tonnes of strawberries via imports from different countries, including the USA, Thailand and Australia.
Strawberries are eaten as it is and used in preparing ice-cream, jam, jelly, pickles, chocolates, biscuits, cake and milk shakes.
Growers urged the government to take immediate steps to support the export of the fruit. With a great export potential, the sweet and attractive fruit will open a new horizon for farmers, if it gets government patronisation, they said.

Bangladesh: Strawberry farming proved to be potential for growers in Barisal region

Success in Strawberry cultivation in Barisal has created enthusiasm among the local farmers to go for massive cultivation of this sweet and nutritious fruit and the prospect of strawberry cultivation has been proved as bright in the district.

Al Amin Talukdar Tutul, owner of Barisal Nursery at Baroitala under Charkawa union of Barisal Sadar upazila, successfully cultivated strawberry on 5 decimal land of his one acre nursery premises on the eastern bank of Kirtonkhola River.

Professor of the Department of Botany at Rajshahi University Manjur Hossain first launched the strawberry farming using tissue culture method, Tutul informed .

The Bangladesh Strawberry Society has undertaken a series of programmes to expand strawberry farming in the country through launching of Strawberry Nursery Research Project (SNRP).

The experts dwelt on the steps taken for expanding strawberry farming in the country and the successes achieved so far at different areas in Bangladesh.

As part of the programmes, I experimentally cultivated strawberry in my Barisal Nursery and became successful, Tutul said.

Now the experiment and research works conducted on strawberry farming found the climatic and topographic conditions and soil composition of Barisal suitable and favourable for the farming.

The people of Barisal could get strawberry saplings very easily after successful research works at the SNRPs under the leadership of Dr Manjur Hossain and I will also try to popularizing strawberry cultivation among the farmers by supplying quality seeds and saplings , the Barisal Nursery owner added.

Strawberry saplings are generally planted in comparatively high land having sunshine and dewatering facilities and can be sown in rows in November and December.

Strawberry plants start flowering within one month of plantation and fruits can be collected till March.

The research team has so far evolved three varieties of strawberry including RB-1, RB-2 and RB-3 and all of these three varieties are suitable for farming in Bangladesh. However of them, cultivation of RB-3 is more suitable, quoting Professor M Manjur Hossain, Tutul further said.

Strawberry looks like litchis in Bangladesh and it contains huge vitamins and minerals, experts said.

They said, 'Strawberry usually grows in the countries where winter prevails most of the time and our climate is not suitable for the plants.

'That's why we have developed these varieties that can be grown here.'

Tutul observed that strawberry cultivation in Bangladesh would be profitable for growers and its cultivation could help remove poverty.

He said now it is proved that the soil and climate of Barisal are suitable for large-scale strawberry cultivation and added efforts are being made in Barisal to give a new dimension to our agro-economy.

Imported strawberry is selling in the local market at prices ranging from Tk 900 to Tk 1,000 per kilogram.

A farmer can yield 2000 kg of strawberry by cultivating on one bigha of land, he said.

'If we can sell strawberry even at Tk 100 per kilogramme, it will help earn Tk 2 lakh from one bigha of land,' said Tutul.

Tutul said the country could easily achieve self-reliance in strawberry production to save foreign exchange being spent every year in importing this costly fruits.


Source: nation.ittefaq.com

Publication date: 3/4/2009

Commercial production and marketing of strawberry begins in Panchagarh & Rangpur....By Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Bangladesh, Feb 6 (BSS) - Production and marketing of strawberry have been started on commercial basis after its successful farming in Panchagarh district paving the way of tremendous economic prospect for the farmers. Jessore Golden Seed Farm (JGSF), a subsidiary organisation of Jessore Ulshi Himagar, achieved the success after eight months of undertaking a strawberry farming programme on 2.7 acres of land in Panchagarh. Earlier, Bangladesh Strawberry Association (BSA) launched a coordinated strawberry research activity involving the JGSF at Haldharjyote village in Sadar upazila of Panchagarh on July 10 last. The JGSF then launched a Strawberry Nursery Research Project (SNRP) with the assistances of pioneer of strawberry farming in the country Prof Dr Manjur Hossain of the Department of Botany of Rajshahi University (RU). Strawberry farming will soon gain huge popularity everywhere in the country's northern region, as its farming was also successful in the Barind area for the last couple of years and the fruit has tremendous economic prospects, experts said. Launching of the SNRP and its huge success in shorter period, have created enthusiasm among the farmers to go for massive cultivation of the nutritious fruit in Panchagarh and adjoining districts. Professor Dr Manjur Hossain first launched the strawberry farming using tissue culture method and the BSA undertook a series of programmes to expand its farming in the country. On Tuesday, a commercial harvesting and marketing ceremony of strawberry was organised at the JGSF farm with Additional Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh Manjur Hassan Bhuiyan in the chair and Prof Dr Manjur Hossain attended as the chief guest. Pathologist of the Department of Botany of the RU Prof Shah Alam, RU Prof Dr Rafiul Islam, Editor of the Daily Kallyan Ekram Ud Doula and Directors of JGSF Hafizur Rahman Pintu and Mofizul Islam Mohan were present as special guests. They expressed satisfaction on the yield rates of strawberry and said that 1.5 tonnes strawberry have been produced per bigha (every 33 decimals) during this season, market price of which stands at around Taka 8-10 lakh on an average. They asked the farmers for its large-scale farming and said that the JGSF has signed agreement with Agora and Nondon in Dhaka to supply strawberry at Tk 650 per Kg and the later will sell at Tk.850 per Kg. They said that the field level farmers could easily sell the produced fruits at Taka 500 per kg after harvesting about 2000 kg fruits from one bigha of land after cultivating at the cost of Taka 25, 000 to earn up to Taka eight to 10 lakh every season. Some 6,000 strawberry plants can be planted in one bigha and each plant can produce 250 to 300 grams fruits to provide the farmers maximum profits than any other crop when the country imports 50 tonnes of it annually from Thailand, Australia and USA. They said that the soil, climate and topographic conditions of the sub-Himalayan districts are suitable for strawberry cultivation that led to the successful farming of the fruits in Panchagarh making the people more hopeful for a better economic future. With great export potential, the attractive fruit could open a new horizon for the farmers of the northern region to earn more profits from less land area including the homesteads when the country's cultivable land area has been decreasing gradually, they said. While talking to BSS on the occasion, Dr. Manjur Hossain told that the SNRP was set up for expanded cultivation of strawberry and popularise the same among the farmers of Panchagarh and adjoining sub-Himalayan districts where the climate is favourable for it. He said that strawberry usually grows better in the countries where winter prevails most of the time and keeping all these factors in view, we developed the species that could be grown here and suitable for Bangladesh climate. He narrated as how three verities of strawberry RU-1, RU-2 and RU-3 (Rabi-1,2,3) were evolved through tissue culture method using Semiclonal Variation Technology at the Plant Breeding and Gene Engineering Laboratory at his Botany Department in RU. "Of the three verities, the RU-3 is suitable for our local climate and it produces saplings faster than the other two species and found very impressive in colour, size and taste," he added. He also said strawberry cultivation is as easy as growing potato and brinjal and it is better to plant the saplings into prepared lands in matted, ribbon and hill plasticulture rows during the months of November and December. The plant starts flowering within one month of plantation and fruits can be collected after four months and onwards and an 8- hour long sunshine a day and irrigation and drainage facilities are prerequisites for better strawberry cultivation. He said that use of organic and compost fertilizer use would be preferred for preparing land and the plantation area should be covered with plastic nets or other devices to save the fruits from the birds.. Dr Manjur told BSS that there are bright prospects of exporting our locally produced high quality strawberry abroad including Europe as the same does not grow there during the winter. Strawberry contains proteins as well as vitamins like A, C, and E, minerals, folic acid, selenium, calcium, polyphenol, alaric, frolic and cumaric acids and quertcitin, xanthomycin and phytostable and some of them can prevent cancer and AIDS. He said emphasis should be given to dissemination of technological ideas about strawberry farming and its marketing process side by side with innovation of ways and means for further expansion of cultivation of this cash crop.