Eat local fruits to save foreign currency: Adviser

Consuming local fruits can help reduce the country's dependency on imported produce and save valuable foreign currency, said Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture.

He made the remarks on Thursday while inaugurating the three-day National Fruit Fair at the premises of the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in Khamarbari, Dhaka.

“The fair is being held across all 64 districts with the aim of familiarizing the public with indigenous fruits,” said the adviser. “Many people are unaware of the variety and nutritional value of our local fruits. Instead, they often prefer imported ones like apples and grapes. But in terms of quality and taste, Bangladeshi fruits are superior.”

He emphasized that promoting and consuming local produce would contribute to economic sustainability.
“By eating homegrown fruits, we can save a significant amount of foreign currency. At the same time, we’re expanding exports of fruits like mangoes, jackfruits, and guavas. For instance, mango exports to China have recently begun. Increased exports will directly benefit our farmers,” Chowdhury added.

Prior to his speech, the adviser toured the fairgrounds. A total of 75 institutions—26 from the public sector and 49 from the private sector—are participating in this year’s event.

The National Fruit Fair is being held in 431 upazilas across all districts of the country, including Dhaka. This year’s theme is: “Let’s Eat More Local Fruits, Let’s Plant Fruit Trees.”

The fair is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors can learn about modern fruit cultivation technologies and purchase a wide variety of chemical-free local fruits.