Organic Market and Trend of Bangladesh Dr. Shaikh Tanveer Hossain Board Member, IFOAM Asia and Sustainable Agriculture Advisor, FIVDB, Bangladesh International Organic Seminar

Organic farming in Bangladesh- An overview Non-certified (default organic) is practiced in Bangladesh (1980s) It could not expand adequately due to not getting support from government NGOs & private organizations tried level best to expand Consumers awareness of health & environmental issues – demand of Safe & Organic food is growing significantly Food shops sells organic produces mainly to rich & elites, since prices are beyond the capacity of most urban people Production & marketing of organic produces are mainly done by contract farming

Organic farming in Bangladesh- An overview Most of the 1.5 million homesteads in Bangladesh, where fruits and vegetables are grown virtually without any agro-chemicals A grassroots initiative, called Nayakrishi Andolon (New Agriculture Movement) begin in 1988 by UBINIG So far, there is no evidence of any organized domestic market for organic products in the country Some NGOs like Proshika, FIVDB and companies -Probortana, Kazi & Kazi farms are advocating and practicing Organic Farming Bangladesh Organic Products Manufacturers Association (BOPMA) established and Organic Bangladesh Limited (OBL) trying for organic standardization.

Friends In Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) National non-governmental organization. Established in FIVDB combines grassroots service delivery, social mobilisation and advocacy in collaboration with communities, civil society, government and private sector. Livelihood Enhancement Programme (LEP) promotes on-farm and off-farm activities to generate gainful income and employment for underprivileged households and communities. In agricultural sector FIVDB promotes organic, regenerative farming practices along with Landcare approach. It is involved in piloting /developing and extending these technologies and products.

Organic Agricultural land in Bangladesh Source: Helga and Lernoud (Eds.), 2014

Organic Aquaculture  Approx ha world-wide were used for organic aquaculture in  Most of area is in Vietnam (19500 ha, 58%) and Bangladesh (9338 ha, 28%).  Two types of organic seafood, Organic salmon (salmo salar) & penaid shrimp are dominated in global organic aquaculture.  Organic Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) is mostly farmed in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Madagasker, Thailand and Vietnam. photo Source: Helga and Lernoud (Eds.), 2014

Organic Producers Number of Producer in Bangladesh (2012) : 9337 Number of Exporters (2010) : 2 Source: Helga and Lernoud (Eds.), 2014

Standards and Regulations Countries with regulations on organic agriculture: EU Non EU Europe Asia & Pac Ame & Carr Africa Fully Implemented Not Fully Implemented Process of Drafting Regulations: Region Country Europe Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Russia Asia & Pacific Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan American & Caribbean Jamaica, St. Lucia Africa Kenya, South Africa, Sudan Source: Helga and Lernoud (Eds.), 2014 National Working Group on Organic Farming (NWG) by Hortex Foundation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of Bangladesh

Success  WAB Trading Conversion Int’l (Asia) Ltd. exported 2,645 MT organic shrimp mainly EU countries in Received Gold Medal from Government of Bangladesh. The German government has also given a special award in  High quality organic tea has been promoted as a premium brand at prestigious of London.

Opportunities of Organic Sector in Bangladesh  Bumper rice production and government is now planning to export rice due to less storage facilities. Rice is grown in 82% of total cultivated area.  High demand of organic rice in domestic and export markets  Suitable land and climate for year round produces Hectare Source. Willer and Yussefi, 2007  Cereals: wheat, rice, maize or corn  Pulses: gram, black gram, lentil  Fruits: banana, mango, orange, pineapple  Oil seeds & oils: soybean, sunflower, mustard, groundnut  Vegetables, herbs & spices: chilli, turmeric, tamarind, ginger etc.  Fisheries: Black Tiger Shrimp  Others: sugar, tea. Jute, cotton, honey, bamboo etc. Potential Crops:

Recommendati on  Awareness building among producers and consumers  Develop and include the “National Organic Policy” in agricultural plan  Develop the certification & regulation system and form organic certification body  Development of organic farming marketing system and active participation in the organic agricultural networks  Establish the “Bangladesh Organic Farming Research Institute’  Collaboration and support from international organic agricultural agencies

CONCLUSION  Organic farming has potentiality to expand in Bangladesh by identifying the suitable niches in different locations.  R & D activities need to strengthened along with promotion of domestic and export marketing of high value organic agro-commodities.  Government should take effective initiative through institutional approach to develop organic sector.

Contact: Tel