Introduction
The Horticulture Export Development Foundation, in short, “Hortex Foundation” is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee and Licensed under Section 26 of the Companies Act, 1913 having Registration No. C-323(11)/93. The Foundation was established in 1993 as a “not for profit” organization under patronization of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for the development, promotion and marketing of exportable agricultural/horticultural produces, particularly high value non-traditional crops to high price mainstream markets for improving farmers’ income and national economy. The main focus of the Foundation is to organize, set up and develop supply and value chain management of high value high quality agro-commodities for domestic and export markets.

Management
The Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is the ex-officio Chairman of Hortex Foundation. Being Chairman of the Foundation, He is also the Chairman of its Governing and General Body. The Governing Body comprises seven Directors (Members) and the General Body consists of minimum 35 Members. The Vice Chairman, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Ministry of Commerce, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is the ex-officio Members of both the Governing Body and the General Body of the Foundation. Other Members of these two Management Bodies are representatives mostly come from the private sector organizations. The activities of the Foundation are managed and controlled by its Governing Body and the General Body in line with the guidelines laid down in the revised Memorandum and the Articles of Associations of the Foundation.
The Managing Director, working as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Foundation, operates and runs the affairs of the Foundation on a regular basis as per directives of the Governing Body as well as the General Body following Administrative and Financial Management Operation Manual and by-laws laid down in the revised Memorandum and the Articles of Associations of Hortex Foundation.

Goal
Development and promotion of agribusiness with high value agro-products for export through technological and advisory support in order to boost national economy and farmers’ income.

Vision
Development of high value high quality agro-commodities through commercial agriculture system in Bangladesh both for domestic and export markets.

Major activities
Major activities of the Foundation are to:

• assist the farmers in producing quality produces, quarantine pest management, improved postharvest management practices and promotion of contract/group farming system;
• provide training to the farmers, exporters, new entrepreneurs, suppliers and other stakeholders involved in the supply chain on production, postharvest technology and business promotion;
• create awareness among the stakeholders on sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, WTO rules and regulations, tariff and non-tariff barriers, technical barriers to trade, quarantine pest, disease & postharvest management, food safety & quality;
• provide market intelligence support about market opportunities, product specifications, sources of supply, prices, packaging specifications, linkage among farmers, exporters and importers;
• develop supply and value chain management for agri-business promotion;
• assist new entrepreneurs to develop their business plans and market entry strategy;
• provide web marketing services, establish & maintain database on production and export marketing of high value agro-commodities;
• provide cool chain management and transportation support to exporters and other agro-entrepreneurs for minimizing all forms of deterioration to the perishable and high temperature sensitive commodities;
• provide trial shipment support to the exporters for product and market diversification;
• organize expert consultation, seminar, workshop and success story presentation on different aspects of horticultural/agricultural export;
• participate in national and need-based international trade fairs for promoting exportable produces in abroad;
• explore niche market opportunity for export promotion of high value agro-commodities;
• develop publications such as technical bulletin, newsletter, booklets, leaflets and video content;
• establish and maintain contact, collaborate and contract with other organizations, institutions, bodies and societies at home and abroad for furtherance of the objectives of the Foundation;
• initiate, undertake and promote adaptive research, including market research activities and cooperate with public and private organizations and
• develop and promote value added agro-products for domestic and export markets.

Business linkages
Hortex Foundation does not work in isolation rather it works in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh and its affiliated agencies like Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and Ministry of Commerce, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), different Agricultural Universities and Research Institutes, Business Associations, different Farmers’ Associations, Trade Bodies, Private Sectors, International Organizations (UNESCAP, UNECE) and Development Partners (the World Bank, IFAD, EU, FAO, USAID).

Hortex business model
Hortex Foundation (HF) developed a comprehensive business model linking the public and private sector organizations such as, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and Department of Fisheries (DoF), entrepreneurs, traders, processors, exporters and farmers’ organization - Common Interest Groups (CIGs) - and Producers’ Organizations (POs) for extension and research support for production, financial services and linkages with the marketing organizations where strong linkage has been suggested between Commodity Collection and Marketing Centre (CCMC) and Producer Organization. In this model, line agencies such as, DAE, DLS and DoF will take leading role in facilitating production and making availability of commodities to the Commodity Collection and Marketing Centre (CCMC), while Hortex Foundation will facilitate marketing of different agro-commodities in domestic and export markets.


Hortex Developed New Supply Chain Development Business Model

Experiences of project implementation
Hortex Foundation successfully implemented the following 07 (seven) projects funded by the Government of Bangladesh, World Bank, IFAD, EC, FAO:

1. Support for Horticultural Export Development Project (IDA credit No. 2393-BD) from July 1996 to June 1999;
2. Agricultural Services Innovation and Reform Project (ASIRP); Hortex component (IDA Credit No. 3284-BD) from July 1999 to March 2003;
3. EU-SPF (Small Project Facilities) Project on Regulatory and Standard Requirements for Accessing Fresh Produce Markets in the EU countries from January to February 2007;
4. EU-SPF (Small Project Facilities) Project on Capacity Building in Administering SPS & Environmental Standards relating to Fresh Produce Export to European Union from July 2006 to October 2007;
5. Study on the Requirements for Entrance of Bangladeshi Fresh Horticultural Produce to the Upstream Markets in the United Kingdom (BGD/75/21A) funded by European Commission & implemented by ITC, Geneva, Switzerland under Bangladesh Quality Support Programme (BQSP), Component-2 from November to December 2009;
6. Supply Chain Development Component (SCDC) of National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) from 2008-2014 funded by the World Bank, IFAD and Government of Bangladesh and
7. Development of Food Control Guidelines and Pilot Implementation across the Horticultural Value Chain a sub-project from October 2014 - March 2016 funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-FSP) in collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Implementation of NATP-2
National Agricultural Technology Program – Phase II Project (NATP-2) is supporting Hortex Foundation as the Strategic Partner to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under a Strategic Partnership Agreement for providing technical assistance to PIU-NATP2-DAE in carrying out value chain development, marketing and crop development activities in 30 cluster upazilas with 15000 farmers. Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed between DAE and Hortex Foundation on 10th January 2017 for value chain development and market linkage in NATP-



Objective of value chain development in NATP-2
To demonstrate the best practices for horizontal and vertical expansion of high value crop production, post-harvest management, value chain management, value addition, enterprises development and marketing to improve the small holder farmers access to the markets in selected 30 cluster upazilas.

Functions of Hortex Foundation as the Strategic Partner of DAE in NATP-2
NATP-2 funds the Hortex Foundation, as a Strategic Partner of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under a Strategic Partner Agreement for providing technical services on value chain development with an agreed contract value. The strategic partner would assist DAE’s Common Interest Groups (CIGs) and Producer Organizations (POs) and Private Entrepreneurs in:

1. organizing programs for horizontal expansion of best practices in selected 30 old and new generation upazilas;
2. mapping and organizing the vertical expansion of selected six crops i.e. brinjal, bitter gourd, sweet gourd, tomato/summer tomato, banana and aromatic rice;
3. undertaking value chain analysis, market studies and surveys;
4. undertake marketing capacity building for CIG, POs and DAE staff/officials on value chain management, organize and assist POs in establishing the Commodity Collection & Marketing Centers (CCMCs) and renovation of existing markets with good post-harvest management and short term storing facilities where producers (CIGs and non-CIG farmers), processors and traders come together and are doing business;
5. develop market linkages and contractual arrangements between CIGs/POs with traders, supermarkets, processors and exporters;
6. provide financial advisory services to CIG/POs and entrepreneurs to apply for matching grants from Agricultural Innovation Funds (AIF-2, technology adoption and AIF-3 for market and enterprises development) and
7. organize communication campaign on food safety, Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) measures etc.

Marketing Capacity Building in NATP-2
The focus will be on strengthening of institutional arrangements and ‘know-how’ of organizations able to support market-oriented production systems, including:

1. support to CIGs, POs and MMCs in commercial farming practices, including issues related to value chain development, business development, access to appropriate financial services and marketing support to improve access to markets, both through orderly contract farming and direct marketing, and other services (inputs, credit, technical support); and
2. improvements in institutional and operational effectiveness of Hortex, the specialized agency established by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to promote post-harvest value addition and market linkages to accelerate growth of high supply chain of agricultural commodities and
3. development of effective linkages with the research system and support for validation trials, especially on local supply chain.

The Strategic Partner, Hortex Foundation will

4. provide training to CIG/POs, DAE officials and entrepreneurs on business development and management, best practices of post-harvest management, organizing CCMC, transportation, and linkage with urban markets.
5. mobilize 15000 CIG farmers (300 new CIGs and 300 old CIGs) into value chain network along with traders, entrepreneurs and processors.
6. organize motivational and awareness building campaign/workshops for CIG and non-CIG farmers to form and operate CCMC for market linkages development.
7. provide training to POs/Market Management Committee (MMC) members on good governance, production planning, marketing, contract farming, financial management, book keeping, savings management etc. in selected old and new upazilas.

For capacity building of DAE and Hortex personnel, NATP-2 will provide training of trainer (TOT) course for DAE officers, SAAO/AEO, Local Business Facilitator (LBF) and field trainers on production planning, marketing, contract farming, post-harvest management, value addition, food safety etc.

Upazila/Cluster wise preliminary selected value chain commodities for horizontal expansion under NATP-2 is being implemented by Hortex Foundation as Strategic Partner of DAE

Sl. No.	Name of District	Sl. No.	Name of Upazila	Preliminary Selected Commodities	Remarks
1	Dhaka	1	Savar	Brinjal, Broccoli, Sweet gourd and other vegetables	Old upazila
2	Norshingdi	2 3 4	Belabo Shibpur Raipura	Brinjal, Country bean, Bitter gourd, Teasel gourd Brinjal, Country bean, Cauliflower and other vegetables Brinjal, Country bean, Bitter gourd, Teasel gourd	Old upazila Old upazila New upazila
3	Tangail	5 6	Modhupur Delduar	Banana, Lemon, Pineapple, Tomato and other vegetables Lemon, Tomato, Sweet Gourd	New upazila Old upazila
4	Mymensingh	7	Muktagacha	Banana, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lemon	New upazila
5	Jamalpur	8	Islampur	Brinjal, Cucumber and other vegetables	New upazila
6	Sherpur	9	Nakla	Brinjal, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Aromatic Rice	New upazila
7	Gazipur	10	Kapasia	Banana, Guava, Ber (Kul) and other vegetables	Oldupazila
8	Kishoreganj	11	Kishoregonj Sadar	Sweet gourd, Ash gourd and other vegetables	New upazila
9	Comilla	12	Chandina	Tomato, Bitter gourd, Brinjal, Sponge gourd, Ash gourd	Old upazila
10	Sylhet	13	Dakhin Surma	Brinjal, Tomato, Country Bean and other vegetables	New upazila
11	Moulavibaza	14	Sreemongal	Brinjal, Lemon and other vegetables	Old upazila
12	Chittagong	15	Mirsharai	Tomato, Bitter gourd, Country Bean, Yard Long Bean	Old upazila
13	Khagrachari	16	Sadar	Banana, Pineapple, Papaya	New upazila
14	Bogra	17 18	Shibgonj Sadar	Banana, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Bottle gourd, Sweet gourd and other vegetables Sweet gourd, Banana, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Bottle gourd	Old upazila Old upazila
15	Rangpur	19	Mithapukur	Bitter gourd, Pointed gourd, Teasel gourd	New upazila
16	Dinajpur	20 21 22	Parbatipur Birgonj Chirirbondar	Brinjal, Pointed gourd, Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower Aromatic Rice, Banana, Brinjal and other vegetables Aromatic Rice, Banana, Brinjal and other vegetables	Old upazila Old upazila New upazila
17	Gaibandha	23	Polashbari	Banana, Brinjal, Tomato and other vegetables	New upazila
18	Natore	24	Baraigram	Sweet gourd, Banana (plantain), Brinjal, Country Bean, Guava, Ber (Kul), Papaya	Old upazila
19	Naogaon	25	Sadar	Bitter gourd, Aromatic Rice, Early cauliflower, Cabbage, Aroid	New upazila
20	Rajshahi	26	Godagari	Tomato, Brinjal and other vegetables	New upazila
21	Jessore	27 28 29	Sadar Jhikorgacha Bagerpara	Banana , Brinjal, Tomato/Summer Tomato, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Bitter Gourd, Sweet Gourd Flower, Tomato/Summer tomato, Aromatic Rice, Sweet Gourd, Papaya Tomato/Summer Tomato, Brinjal and other vegetables	Old upazila Old upazila New upazila
22	Jhenaidah	30	Kaliganj	Bitter gourd, Banana, Tomato, Brinjal, Cabbage, Cauliflower	New upazila

Value Chain Cluster upazilas for selected commodities for vertical expansion under NATP-2 is being implemented by Hortex Foundation as Strategic Partner of DAE

Brinjal – 6 clusters	Bitter Gourd – 5 clusters	Tomato-6 clusters		Sweet Gourd – 5 clusters	Banana- 5 clusters	Aromatic Rice-3 clusters
		Winter	Summer
1. Raipura, Norshingdi	1. Kaligonj, Jhenaidah	1. Chandina, Comilla	5. Bagherpara, Jessore	1.Sadar, Bogra	1. Shibgonj, Bogra	1. Birgonj, Dinajpur
2. Shibpur Norshingdi	2. Modhupur, Tangail	2. South Surma, Sylhet	6. Jhikorgacha, Jessore	2. Boraigram, Natore	2. Poliashbari, Gaibandha	2. Chirirbondar, Dinajpur
3. Sadar, Jessore	3.Belabo, Norshingdi	3. Mirsharai, Chittagong		3. Delduar, Tangail	3. Kapasia, Gazipur	3. Nakla, Sherpur
4. Islampur, Jamalpur	4. Sadar, Naogaon	4. Godagari, Rajshahi		4. Sadar, Kishoreganj	4. Sadar, Khagrachari
5. Sreemongal, Moulavibazar	5. Mithapukur, Rangpur			5.Savar, Dhaka	5. Muktagacha, Mymensingh
6. Parbatipur, Dinajpur

Total 30 clusters in 30 upazilas of 22 districts