Bangladesh’s Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has advised farmers and exporters to exercise caution in using pesticides to ensure safe food exports. He made the remarks on Thursday while inaugurating the mango export season at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium in Dhaka. The event marked the formal launch of mango exports for the current season under the Department of Agricultural Extension’s ‘Exportable Mango Production Project’.

The minister said mango is one of Bangladesh’s most promising exportable agricultural products, though the country has yet to reach its desired position in the global market. He noted that Bangladesh currently exports mangoes to 38 countries, including China, following a 2024 export agreement. Malaysia, Japan, and several other countries have also shown interest in importing Bangladeshi mangoes. Officials and experts at the event emphasized that improving production and processing quality would strengthen the value chain and benefit farmers financially.

Project officials reported that 41.5 metric tons of mangoes have already been exported this season to destinations including Italy, Sweden, Canada, and Gulf countries. They expressed optimism that with affordable air freight and sufficient cargo space, Bangladesh could achieve record mango exports this year.