Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
104
Table 47: Tomato production, yields and imports, Bangladesh 2009-2013
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Production
Tonnes (t)
150,720 190,213 232,459 255,430 251,000
Yield (t/ha) 7.38 7.99 9.38 9.97 9.54
Imports (t) 17,004 19,727 23,330 8,800* 21,209
Imports as % of
production
11 10 10 3 8
Imports
US$ million
3.9 5.0 9.3 2.4 6.1
* Unofficial figure
Source: FAOSTAT production data
The main producing areas are Rangpur, Rajshahi, Bogra, Comilla, Chittagong, Norshingdi and
Jessore districts (Alam et al., 2015). Godargari Upazila in Rajshahi district in the north is
accredited for producing two-thirds of the country’s production. However, tomato production
is widespread throughout the country.
Tomatoes are traditionally grown as a winter crop, from November to March, following the
main aman rice crop but high demand and prices, in the summer months have encouraged the
development and planting of summer varieties which command a much higher price. Supply of
tomatoes in the hot, humid months from April to September was previously met entirely by
imports from India and elsewhere, amounting to around 10% of production and an import cost
of nearly US$30 million over the past five years. Summer tomatoes have to be grown under
protective plastic polytunnels to protect the plants from the heavy monsoon rain. They also
have to be irrigated. Summer tomato production requires specific varieties, several of which
have been developed by BARI with material from the AVRDC. A third production method is
known as the dyke system where tomatoes are grown as on the dykes between fish ponds in
the southern parts of the country (USAID, 2014) in an integrated production system. Farmers
use the silt and nutrient-rich water from the ponds to fertilise the tomato plants, which
reduces or eliminates the need for purchased fertiliser. Dyke tomatoes mature earlier than
winter tomatoes and are marketed when prices are higher. They also need some form of
protection against monsoon rains.
Tomatoes has become a major cash crop and a good income earner for farmers although crops
are subject to disease which can lead to huge field losses and to gluts which can result in
dumping of unsold or unmarketable produce. Although there are several companies producing
and selling hybrid seeds, seed quality is often mentioned by farmers as a significant factor in
low yields and pre-harvest losses. Local seed companies have developed varieties that are
resistant to bacterial wilt and viruses and with longer shelf life. Fresh tomatoes last for three to
four days without preservation, such as cold storage. Early-yielding varieties are preferred by
farmers, to gain the price advantage at the start of the season. Ripening agents, such as
ethephon, are used to spray harvested immature green tomatoes to hasten ripening and gain
early market advantage. Research has indicated (Moniruzzaman et al., 2015) that the use of
such chemicals can shorten subsequent shelf life.
Fresh tomato consumption increased at 13% per year between 2005 and 2012 (USAID,
2014:102). Tomatoes are an essential ingredient in Bengali curry dishes and are increasingly
consumed fresh in salads. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin K,
vitamin E, biotin, and molybdenum; provide potassium, iron, and fibre and contain lycopene,
an antioxidant.