Hortex Foundation

Horticulture Export Development Foundation, in short, Hortex Foundation was established in 1993 at the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as a non-profit organization. It is governed by a Governing Body of Seven Directors. Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh is the Chairman while Managing Director is the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation. The Foundation is involved for the development, promotion and marketing of exportable horticultural/agricultural produces through technological intervention, advisory and necessary logistic supports in order to boost national economy and the different stakeholders’ income. The Foundation works closely in association with relevant organizations like Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, different agencies like Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Horticulture Research Centre (HRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Universities (BAU) and other Universities, Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association (BFVAPEA), Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Associations (BAPA), Trade Bodies, Donor Agencies, NGOs etc. The Foundation in the past successfully completed the following four projects funded by Government of Bangladesh and different Donor Agencies: Support for Horticultural Export Development Project (IDA Credit No. 2393-BD) from July 1996 to June 1999. Agricultural Services Innovation & Reform Project (ASIRP): Hortex Component (IDA Credit No. 3284-BD) from July 1999 to March 2003. EU-SPF (Small Project Facilities) Project on Capacity Building in Administering SPS and Environmental Standards Relating to Fresh Produce Export to EU from July 2006 to October 2007. A Study on the Requirement for Entrance of Bangladeshi Fresh Horticultural Produce to the Upstream Markets in the UK (BGD/75/21A) funded by European Commission and implemented by ITC, Geneva under Bangladesh Quality Support Programme (BQSP), Component-2 from November to December 2009. The Foundation is implementing the Supply Chain Development Component (SCDC) since 2009 under National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) at ten selected Upazilas in Bangladesh funded by World Bank, IFAD and Government of Bangladesh. The focus of this component is to integrate small and marginal farmers and agribusiness enterprises into modern supply chain by promoting more equitable chain governance and market linkages including local rural markets of selected high value agro commodities. The major interventions of the project include quality production through group/contract farming, post harvest loss reduction, farmers-traders linkage, entrepreneurship development and capacity building of the different actors involved in the supply chain.