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Horticulture in Bangladesh – Current Landscape and Growth Outlook

Bangladesh, with its fertile soil, subtropical climate, and growing population, has a rapidly expanding horticulture sector. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants contribute significantly to domestic nutrition, rural income, and export earnings. The government and private sector are investing in modern horticulture technologies to increase yield, quality, and market access.
Reference: FAO – Bangladesh Horticulture Overview – http://www.fao.org/bangladesh/fao-in-bangladesh/bangladesh-at-a-glance/en/

1. Overview of Bangladesh’s Horticulture Sector

Bangladesh produces a wide variety of horticultural crops, including:

Vegetables (tomato, eggplant, cabbage, okra, leafy greens)
Fruits (mango, banana, guava, papaya, jackfruit, citrus)
Floriculture (roses, marigolds, orchids, chrysanthemums)
Tea (niche areas in Sylhet)
Medicinal herbs (turmeric, ginger, neem, moringa)
Greenhouse and high-value crops (capsicum, cucumber, cherry tomato)

The sector is adopting greenhouse farming, drip irrigation, fertigation, and cold chain facilities to improve productivity and post-harvest management.
Reference: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) – http://www.bari.gov.bd/

2. Key Horticultural Products

Vegetables

Bangladesh grows over 15 million tonnes of vegetables annually, including:

Tomato
Brinjal (eggplant)
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Spinach & leafy greens
Okra (ladyfinger)
Pumpkin & gourds
Reference: Trading Economics – Bangladesh Vegetable Production – https://tradingeconomics.com/bangladesh/vegetable-production

Fruits

Bangladesh is a leading producer in South Asia for:

Mango (notably Himsagar, Langra, Amrapali)
Banana
Jackfruit (national fruit)
Guava
Papaya
Citrus fruits
Pineapple (in Chattogram Hill Tracts)
Reference: IndexBox – Bangladesh Fruit Market Overview – https://www.indexbox.io/blog/bangladesh-fruit-market-overview-2024/

Tea and Medicinal Plants

Sylhet and Chattogram hill regions produce:

Orthodox tea
Green tea
Ginger, turmeric, neem, and moringa
Reference: Tea Board Bangladesh – https://www.teaboard.gov.bd/

Flowers and Ornamentals

Florist crops like roses, orchids, marigolds, and chrysanthemums are increasingly exported to Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets.
Reference: Export Promotion Bureau Bangladesh – http://www.epb.gov.bd/

3. Regional Distribution of Horticulture

Northern Bangladesh – vegetables (Bogura, Dinajpur), mango orchards, potato production
Central Bangladesh – rice-based cropping with vegetable rotation, floriculture near Dhaka
Southern Bangladesh – tropical fruits (banana, mango, jackfruit), guava, pineapple
Eastern Bangladesh (Chattogram/Sylhet) – tea plantations, hill fruits, and medicinal crops
Reference: FAO – Regional Horticulture Distribution – http://www.fao.org/bangladesh/fao-in-bangladesh/bangladesh-at-a-glance/en/

4. Technology & Innovation in Horticulture

Bangladesh is modernizing horticulture with:

Greenhouse Farming: Polyhouse and high-tech greenhouses for tomato, cucumber, capsicum
Smart Agriculture: IoT-based monitoring, sensors for soil moisture, AI in crop management
Fertigation & Soil Nutrition: Integrated nutrient management for higher yields
Cold Chain & Storage: New cold storage facilities improving export quality
Reference: BARI Technology Updates – http://www.bari.gov.bd/

5. Challenges

Climate vulnerability: floods, cyclones, and erratic rainfall
Soil degradation due to overuse of chemical fertilizers
Pest & disease pressures
Limited access to modern post-harvest technologies
Market fragmentation and post-harvest losses

The government is encouraging organic farming, integrated pest management (IPM), and modern horticulture techniques.
Reference: Ministry of Agriculture Bangladesh – http://www.moa.gov.bd/

6. Export Potential

Bangladesh exports horticultural products to Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe, including:

Mangoes
Guava
Pineapple
Cut flowers
Medicinal herbs

Expansion of cold storage, processing units, and modern transport logistics is enhancing export competitiveness.
Reference: Export Promotion Bureau Bangladesh – http://www.epb.gov.bd/

7. Future Outlook (2025–2030)

Expansion of greenhouse and high-value crop farming
Increased adoption of AI, IoT, and precision agriculture
Growth in fruit processing (juice, dried fruit, puree)
Rising domestic and international demand for organic vegetables and fruits
Stronger horticulture export value through better quality and marketing

Bangladesh is set to become a key horticulture supplier in South Asia and expand its niche in global specialty crops.
Reference: FAO – Bangladesh Agriculture Outlook – http://www.fao.org/bangladesh/fao-in-bangladesh/bangladesh-at-a-glance/en/