6. Developing Service Market for Packaging of Agro-Products

Client

Katalyst

Location

Whole Bangladesh

Duration

Phase 2: 14 months (January 2012 – February 2013)
Phase 1: 15 months (February 2010 – May 2011)

Status

Completed

Background

Absence of packaging service providers is one of the major constraints in the agricultural market in Bangladesh. Packaging has several benefits across different sub-sectors; hence it is treated as having cross sectoral impact over other sub-sectors like fruits, grains, flowers, vegetables, fisheries and also in livestock in different forms. But the packaging service market is barely operating for the packaging solutions of agro products except some in retail level. Post harvest losses in agro produced are huge in Bangladesh, as said; up to 40% of products get damaged or get their quality reduced due to absence of proper packaging. To address these constraints, GMark is carrying out its operation in 29 districts all over the country for developing the packaging service market for selected agro-sectors i.e. fish, vegetables, and fruits.

Intervention Areas

Improve Bamboo Made Packaging: In this intervention, an innovative idea is proceed among the Bamboo Basket Producers, Traders and Farmers to deduct the post harvest losses due to packaging. This idea is nothing but improving the existing bamboo basket in various features. These improved baskets will reduce the losses of farmers’ agro produces like vegetable, fish, fruit and flower from quality deterioration and wastage. Besides this, it also improves the business of Bamboo basket producers and trades and increases their daily income.

Plastic Made Packaging: In this intervention. Plastic Crate is introducing among the Agro traders and Farmers in replace of traditional packaging. This plastic Crate is very much useful packaging for transporting the agro products from local market to distance market as well as frame get to local market. It will stop hues wastage due to improper traditional packaging. This intervention brings more profit to the agro traders as well as farmers.