The Rajshahi region, including the expansive Barind tract in Bangladesh, is emerging as a beacon for agro-processing enterprises, leveraging its surplus production of crops, fruits, and vegetables. Masudur Rahman, President of the Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlights the region's decades-long status as a food surplus area, producing significant quantities of rice, maize, wheat, and a variety of fruits like mango, banana, papaya, and vegetables. The area is also known for its production of vegetables such as potato, cauliflower, and more exotic varieties like broccoli and strawberry.
The Bangabandhu Multipurpose Jamuna Bridge has been pivotal in enhancing northern connectivity, facilitating broader market access for the region's agricultural output, including cereals and livestock. This improvement in infrastructure, according to Rahman, is crucial for the burgeoning agro-business sector, which also requires stable power and natural gas supplies for the establishment of diverse agro-based industries.
There are calls for the government to improve Rajshahi Airport's facilities to enable direct exports of agri-products to Middle Eastern and European markets. Muhammad Ali Sarker notes the region's substantial contribution to Bangladesh's food security and agro-industrial raw materials, with a particular emphasis on its dominance in mango production, suggesting a potential for mango-based industries. Furthermore, the region's capacity for aromatic rice production and rice-bran oil extraction presents significant export opportunities and industrial potential, underscoring Rajshahi's critical role in Bangladesh's agricultural economy.
Source: bssnews.net