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Rice export increases but fails to tap potential

Experts say at workshop

STAR BUSINESS REPORT
Export of fine and aromatic rice from Bangladesh marked a significant rise from 1,100 tonnes in 2002 to 3,300 tonnes in 2003 but the volume is still far below the potential demand of 4 million Bangladeshis living abroad.
If Bangladeshi fine rice varieties could be made available abroad, the demand would increase to 338,000 tonnes, assuming that each of 75 percent of the expatriate Bangladeshis would be consuming 10 kgs of rice per month, said a study report at a city workshop yesterday.
But the problems ranging from poor milling system to high freight charges and various trade and nontrade barriers have put this potential export sector in a dilemma, said researchers who undertook the study "Potential of Export of Aromatic and Fine Quality Rice from Bangladesh."
Bangladesh Rice Foundation
(BRF), a non-government agroresearch funding institution, commissioned the study over a year back with support from the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Council (Brac) and arranged the dissemination of the study yesterday.
Principal investigator of the study, Dr Rezaul K Talukder as well as other leading discussants at the workshop, held at the conference room of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), called for immediate policy interventions so that fine rice growers and exporters get the necessary support from the government.
Brac Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed addressed as the chief guest at workshop chaired by BRF Chairman and former finance minister M Syeduzzaman. Professor of Bangladesh Agriculture University Dr MA Sattar Mandal, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of
Development Studies (BIDS) Dr M Asaduzzaman, Director General of DAE Tariq Hasan also took part in discussion on the study report. Later former secretary Dr Zahurul Karim moderated an open discussion while the BRF Executive Director Mazharul Haq gave vote of thanks.
Fazle Hasan Abed expressed concern about moribund state of agricultural research in Bangladesh and verbalised urgency on getting back all the young researchers who, over the years, have left the country and are pursuing careers abroad.
In his deliberation M Syeduzzaman asserted that Bangladesh could earn valuable foreign exchange by vigorously pursuing the export market for aromatic and fine quality rice. He assured the gathering that BRF would lobby at policy planners-level for extending rice export market.
Giving a preview of the study report, Dr Rezaul K Talukder said, fine rice exporters often did not get
cooperation from the country's missions abroad while poor milling system and high freight charges also act as discouraging factors.
He noted that highly subsidised export policy pursued by India has also posed serious negative implications for rice export from Bangladesh.
The export volume statistics provided in the study report shows that since 1995 Bangladesh has exported a total of 7,900 tonnes of aromatic and fine quality rice till last year. The year-wise break-up is: 240 MT (1995), 310 MT ('96), 370 MT ('97), 450 MT ('98), 510 MT ('99), 570 MT (2000), 1,050 MT ('01),
1,100 MT ('02) and 3,300 MT ('03).
Of these, 70 percent was nonaromatic fine rice while the rest 30 percent was aromatic rice.
The exportable quality rice varieties from Bangladesh include Chinigura, Kalijira, Kataribhog and Basmati.