What is HORTEX ?
Horticultural
Export Development Foundation, in short Hortex, is registered under
Companies Act of 1913 as an Association not for profit, for export
development of horticultural crops from Bangladesh.
Its affairs are managed by the Governing Body consisting of 7 members,
of which 2 are from the public sector and 5 are from the private
sector, including 1 from the NGO.
Hortex does not directly get involved in either production or export.
It works through the private sector and NGOs and provides them
technical assistance and all sorts of support services required.
Presently, these technical assistance and support services are provided
under IDA funded Agricultural Services Innovation & Reform Project
(ASIRP):Hortex Component.
What HORTEX do ?
Hortex
involves in development, promotion and marketing of exportable
horticultural produces, particularly high-value non-traditional crops
to high-price non-conventional international markets.
It has developed a model zone for export-oriented production of
horticultural produces like french bean, green chilli, okra, bitter
gourd, yard long bean and a variety of other crops for export and
assists in marketing of these crops to the upper segment of the EU,
Middle East and South East Asian markets and elsewhere.
It has also successfully introduced baby pineapple year-round and
undertook development programmes for frozen vegetables, ornamental
plants, particularly Chinese palm and orchid cut-flowers for export.
Hortex follows strictly EU and HACCP standards on sowing, irrigation,
pest management, harvesting, grading, packaging, transportation and
cool chain management all throughout.
Fruits and Vegetables:
A vast range of fruits and vegetables of impeccable quality grows in
Bangladesh. Export is channelized to as many as 35 destinations at the
moment. National export of fruits and vegetables was to the tune of
12,761 MT in the year 2001-2002 (July-June).
Hortex
follows “production to market approach” and assists the partner
organizations right from the selection of land and sowing of seeds to
contacting buyers and transporting exportable crops.
Contract
farming system has been introduced by Hortex and quality adherence is
strictly enforced at every stage of production and export chain.
Hortex-promoted export had increased from 173 MT in 1999-2000
(July-June) to 461 MT in 2001-2002 (July-June).
Packaging and Palletization:
Hortex has developed quality packaging cartons of international
standard using virgin and kraft paper manufactured locally, with a
picture of Bangladesh flag on the top and Hortex logo at the side.
All
Hortex-promoted crops are exported using these cartons which have
already received buyer's appreciation abroad and are helping develop a
brand name image in the world horticultural markets.
Hortex logo thus represents quality and standardization of exportable fresh produces from Bangladesh.
These cartons also help in palletized export.
Input supply and training:
Hortex undertakes market studies and supports the contract farmers with
appropriate seeds initially free of cost as a demonstration input and
then on cost-price basis to help produce market-oriented specific
crops.
Training is also provided to farmers on production technology and sorters/graders on post harvest handling and packaging.
Cool chain management:
Hortex has a fleet of 3 reefer trucks and 1 reefer container which are
made available to the partner organizations at a promotional rate of
rent.
This is done to help maintain the cool chain effect all throughout from the packhouse in the field to the point of shipment.
Advisory services and training are also provided on the effective management of cool chain system.
Export method (Terms of payment): Consignment sale on CFR (C&F) on destination basis is the normal practice.
L/C is, however , preferable.
