FROM PAGE B1

It was revised for a second time, with the cost raised to Tk 460 crore and tenure extended by another two years, meaning by June 2023.

The project was initially taken to train 4.76 lakh farmers, increase production and subsequently reduce fruit imports.

Currently, Bangladesh meets about 60 per cent of its demand for fruits through imports at an annual cost of around $30 million.

The project also focuses on production of high yielding exotic fruits for export, according to the DAE.

Asked about the time overruns, Md Mehedi Masood, the project director, said the project sought the extra time and budget only for additional components.

Moreover, delays for the pandemic and in land acquisition also hampered the progress of the project, he said.

“We have already completed 91 per cent of our project and already set up 10 horticulture centres across the country,” said Masood, also the deputy director of the DAE’s horticulture wing.

Contacted, AKM Fazlul Haque, secretary to the agriculture, water resources and rural institutions division of the planning commission, said they received positive feedbacks during the initial implementation phases.

Asked about the time overruns, Haque said on getting the revision proposals, they have scrutinised the project and trimmed the proposed cost and asked to complete the project by June 2025.

“The DAE had sought around Tk 255 crore with some additional components. But we have subtracted some components and reduced its cost by Tk 44 crore,” he said.