Safe, branded bananas will be produced in Bangladesh

Bananas have long been a staple in the diet of Bangladesh, with their versatile use in sweet and savory dishes. Bangladesh is among the top 20 banana producing countries in the world with its production hitting 826,000 metric tonnes, amounting to a market value of $122 million in fiscal year 2020-21. However, there are very few options for consumers in the country to find safe and branded bananas. Unlike other products, the concept of branded bananas has not taken firm root in the country up until now. Here comes a piece of good news for banana lovers. Recognizing the increased demand from consumers for safe foods, a group of innovative Dhaka-based agribusinesses met on June 7 with three farmer-based enterprises and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) at a city hotel to expand the market for safe and branded bananas intended for Bangladesh's high-end market. Seven organizations planned to undertake four distinct innovations across the banana supply chain: 1) ...