Development of Agribusiness Enterprises - Asian Productivity ...

now constitute 88 percent of frozen seafood exports or almost 82 percent of total fisheries
exports.
Bangladesh has tremendous potential for the expansion of marine and freshwater
shrimp farming. Vast areas of brackish water suitable for marine shrimp farming, and flood
plains (low-lying fields, dead rivers and ponds) suitable for freshwater shrimp culture have
remained unutilized. Increasing shrimp production is possible if the necessary infrastructure
and technical support are provided. With increased production and productivity, the
processing capacity could be fully utilized and exports increased. Therefore, the corelationship
between shrimp farming and shrimp processing must be emphasized in order to
realize their full potential and enrich the nation.
Seeds
Local soybean cultivation can greatly benefit farmers and the national economy of
Bangladesh. Farmers benefit from soybeans because they are a profitable cash crop and they
help to add nitrogen to the soil. Soybeans not only put money in the farmers’ pockets, the
crop also reduces the amount of urea that farmers need to use for later crops.
By promoting local soybean cultivation and processing, the agribusiness enterprise
National Agri-Products Limited (NAPL) is not only operating a profitable business but will,
in the future, help to avoid foreign exchange losses that industry incurs by importing crude
soybean oil. Currently, Bangladesh imports more than 700,000 mt of crude soybean oil
annually. The NAPL goal is to obtain at least 12,000 mt of soybeans locally each year for
converting to oil and soybean cake. The company plans to supply animal feed manufacturers
with soybean cake from locally produced beans.
CONCLUSION
The government is committed to the continued development of agriculture in order to:
(a) maintain food supplies for the growing population; (b) provide income and employment
for rural people; and (c) protect the environment. Agri-based business has great prospects
in Bangladesh if the constraints discussed above are addressed properly. The government is
therefore trying to take all possible steps to ensure that necessary conditions exist for the
development of agro-based business in the country. Donor agencies currently providing
assistance to Bangladesh are also interested in the further development of agribusiness
through different projects.
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