A vapour heat treatment (VHT) plant aimed at boosting fruit exports has been inaugurated in Dhaka, where produce will be treated to international standards without any use of chemicals.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid inaugurated the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) plant on Monday.
The minister said the VHT facility would be developed as a ‘one-stop service’ for exporters, removing the need to visit quarantine offices separately. He said export procedures could now be completed at a single location before sending goods directly to the airport.
Officials said the treatment technology will enable mangoes free from fruit fly and other quarantine pests to be exported to countries including Japan, China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Project Director Mahbub A Alam said the plant has the capacity to process around 12 tonnes of mangoes per day. Under controlled temperature and humidity, vapour heat treatment eliminates fruit fly eggs, larvae and other harmful organisms inside the fruit.
He said the process uses no chemicals and helps preserve taste, colour and nutritional value while meeting international phytosanitary standards.
The plant has been built at a cost of Tk35 crore. If successful, similar facilities will be set up in other parts of the country.
Bangladesh produces around 25–27 lakh tonnes of mangoes annually, but exports remain limited. The country’s highest recorded mango export so far is about 3,100 tonnes.
BADC said the technology has also been applied to oranges, malta, lemons, litchis, guavas, dragon fruit and vegetables. After treatment, washing and drying improve brightness and storage life.
Earlier plans included VHT facilities in Savar and Rajshahi with a target capacity of about 35,000 tonnes of mangoes and vegetables annually, but implementation was staggered following Planning Commission recommendations. The Gabtoli plant is the first to become operational.
The minister also highlighted challenges at airports, saying insufficient storage facilities often damage export consignments due to rain or heat. He said initiatives are underway to build temperature-controlled sheds at airports.
He also mentioned a consignment of Bangladeshi jackfruit scheduled for export to China, saying a culture of producing pesticide-free, high-quality agricultural products is emerging, creating new export opportunities.
