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SAFE BD- Improving the Implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Best Practices for Export-Oriented Vegetables in Bangladesh

Implemented by Swisscontact and financed by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) & IFIC Bank PLC, SAFE BD supports safer trade, better market access, access to finance and stronger public–private coordination.
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Jashore
23.1634014
89.2181664
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Narsingd
23.9350039
90.72339610000002
Bangladesh
Project duration
2025 - 2028
Financed by
  • Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)
  • IFIC Bank PLC
Partners
  • Ministry of Commerce (MoC)
  • Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables & Allied Product Exporters’ Association (BFVAPEA)
  • Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)
  • SGS Bangladesh

As Bangladesh prepares for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, export competitiveness will increasingly depend on compliance, quality, and reliability. At the same time, export earnings remain heavily concentrated in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, underlining the need for greater diversification. That is where agriculture, particularly gourd vegetables, presents a clear opportunity.  

Bangladesh produces over 15 million metric tonnes of vegetables each year, yet less than one percent is exported. A key constraint is weak implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. Consignments, especially gourd varieties, are frequently rejected due to pest infestation, pesticide residues, and hygiene-related shortcomings. In addition, many farmers, exporters, and agri-SMEs need better access to finance, stronger financial knowledge, and more support to invest in improvements that can help them meet SPS requirements and become more competitive in export markets.

SAFE BD responds to these challenges by strengthening pest risk management, improving SPS practices among farmers and exporters, enabling access to finance, and enhancing coordination between institutions. This supports more consistent compliance, reduced export rejections, and gradual diversification of Bangladesh’s export base.

SAFE BD supports the export-oriented gourd value chain in Bangladesh. The project was developed following the application of the P-IMA (Prioritising SPS Investments for Market Access) framework, a structured and evidence-based approach supported by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). The P-IMA process brought together public and private stakeholders to identify the most critical sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) constraints affecting export performance.

It highlighted four key gaps for gourd value chain:

  1. Weak on-site pest risk management and surveillance systems
  2. Limited adoption of good agricultural and hygiene practices across the value chain
  3. Insufficient trade readiness and structured engagement with institutional buyers
  4. Limited financial literacy and investment capacity

SAFE BD addresses these systemic bottlenecks and aims to improve and mainstream stronger SPS processes within institutions and the private sector.

The project works across four connected areas:

  • Strengthening pest risk management
    SAFE BD supports the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) to improve on-site pest risk management for gourd varieties, aligned with IPPC and Codex principles. This includes surveillance practices, capacity building, and improved decision-making at field level.
  • Improving SPS practices among farmers and exporters
    The project builds the capacity of farmers and exporters to adopt good agricultural practices, hygiene principles, and climate-smart approaches that reduce contamination risks and improve compliance with buyer requirements.
  • Facilitating trade linkages and buyer confidence
    SAFE BD supports exporters, through BFVAPEA, to strengthen trade readiness, respond to buyer expectations, and build structured engagement with institutional buyers in the EU and the UK.
  • Improving financial literacy and access to formal finance
    The project enhances financial literacy and access to credit among farmers, exporters, and SMEs to sustain adoption of improved practices and enable formal financial participation.

Through these interventions, SAFE BD aims not only to address immediate compliance gaps, but to embed stronger SPS implementation practices within Bangladesh’s gourd vegetable export system.

Further aspects

  • Gender and inclusion: Promotes women’s participation in the gourd value chain, with at least 30% women farmers engaged in project activities.
  • Institutional governance: Strengthens coordination between the Ministry of Commerce, DAE, exporters’ associations, and certification bodies through structured advisory mechanisms.
  • Environmental sustainability: Encourages responsible pesticide use, integrated pest management, and climate-smart agricultural practices.
  • Institutional mainstreaming: Embeds improved SPS tools, training, and procedures within public and private systems for long-term use.
  • Trade facilitation: Supports stronger compliance, traceability, and buyer confidence in line with Bangladesh’s evolving trade environment.
  • Access to finance: Improves financial literacy and access to credit for farmers, exporters, and agri-SMEs to support SPS compliance, investment capacity, and export readiness.

Expected Results

  • 2,500 farmers, including at least 30% women, adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and climate-smart agriculture
  • 40 exporters are trained to implement HACCP/ISO 22000-compliant food safety systems
  • 35 Field level DAE officials are trained in pest risk management and aligned SPS protocols
  • 15 DAE officials are trained in pest risk management and aligned SPS protocols
  • At least 10 exporters establish direct trade linkages with buyers in the EU and UK
  • Vegetable exports increase by USD 4 million annually, contributing to export diversification and rural income growth
  • Up to 2,000 participants strengthened their financial literacy, contributing to 500 new bank accounts and improved access to finance for at least 100 SMEs
SAFE BD Two Pager
356 kB
P-IMA Bangladesh Summary Report
625 kB
P-IMA Bangladesh Final Report
4 MB
Improving the Implementation of SPS Best Practices for Export-Oriented Vegetables in Bangladesh

News

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06.11.2025
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Swisscontact’s SAFE BD project convened national stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, SPS systems, and coordination for boosting Bangladesh’s agro-export readiness and competitiveness, led by the Ministry of Commerce.