PRAN starts tomato collection aiming to procure 20000 MT

PRAN, one of the largest agro-processors in the country, has started tomato collection and pulping activities this season for manufacturing sauce, ketchup, tomato paste and other food items.

The inauguration ceremony took place at Barind (Varendra) Industrial Park in Rajshahi on Monday (Jan-15), with the presence of AKM Moinul Islam Moin, executive director of PRAN Agro Ltd, Sarowar Hossain, general manager of Barind Industrial Park (BIP) and other high officials of PRAN.

This year, PRAN aims to procure 20,000 metric tons of tomatoes. To meet the target, the agro processor will also collect tomatoes through the PRAN Agro Ltd factory in Natore from Sunday (Jan-21) in addition to BIP.

BIP GM Sarowar Hossain said, “We are collecting tomatoes from Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Dinajpur, Pabna and Naogaon districts. The 10,000 contract farmers of PRAN cultivated tomatoes in 2500 bighas of land. The tomato pulp is being preserved using aseptic technology after being crashed in factories. The collection and pulping activities will be continued till the availability of tomatoes in the field.”

PRAN-RFL Group's Marketing Director Kamruzzaman Kamal said, “Sauce, ketchup and other food items are made from the processed pulp of tomatoes. PRAN is the market leader in the sector and we can produce 18,000 tons of sauces annually.”  

 “PRAN’s sauce and ketchup have a good demand across the globe. If the demand increases more in the world market, farmers will be able to earn more. Presently, PRAN exports its sauce and ketchup to many countries, including Malaysia, UAE, USA, Italy and Sweden. We are also trying to spread the market,” he added.