Bangladesh now produces 72 fruits, says agri adviser as national fruit fair starts
The theme of this year’s National Fruit Fair is set as— “Let’s eat more local fruits, let’s plant fruit trees” by the agriculture ministry
A decade ago, Bangladesh produced 56 types of fruits. Through research and expansion, that number has now increased to 72.
Bangladesh produced 56 kinds of fruits a decade ago, but with advancements in research and expansion efforts, the figure has now risen to 72, said Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury while inaugurating National Fruit Fair-2025 today (19 June).
Inaugurating the three-day fair the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) premises in the capital's Khamarbari, the adviser stressed special attention to ensure safe harvesting and reduce post-harvest losses, noting that about one-third of the produced fruits are wasted after harvest.
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The theme of this year's National Fruit Fair is set as— "Let's eat more local fruits, let's plant fruit trees" by the agriculture ministry.
Visiting the fair venue yesterday, various governmental and private stalls were found showcasing a wide range of fruits including mangoes, jackfruits, lychees, blackberries, and dragon fruit. Alongside fruits, there were stalls selling pickles, juices, laddus, and other food items.
The fair serves as a unique platform for visitors to purchased chemical-free local fruits and get insights about different fruit cultivation technologies.
The fair remains open to the public every day from 10am to 8pm.
Participating stalls are of a total of 75 organisations—26 from the public sector and 49 from the private sector. In addition to Dhaka, the fair is simultaneously taking place in 431 upazilas across all 64 districts.
Visiting the stalls on the inaugural day, the agriculture advisor further mentioned that according research, bananas, papayas, guavas, lychees, and mangoes face 25–35% post-harvest loss. "To prevent this waste, it is essential to raise awareness among all involved—farmers, transporters, processors, and consumers—about post-harvest management and processing."
Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir further said the government is working toward achieving self-sufficiency in nutritious foods. "Just as we've made a revolution in rice production, we also want to bring a revolution in fruit production. Indigenous fruits will not disappear; the germplasm of native fruits is being preserved."
Later, at a seminar held at the KIB auditorium, Agriculture Secretary Md Emdad Ullah Mian stated that the agriculture ministry has initiated the fair to promote local fruits. "The fair showcases endangered, uncommon, new, and promising varieties of fruits."
