What once seemed impossible is now a flourishing reality. Bangladeshi vegetables are being cultivated commercially in the United Kingdom. Credit goes to the pioneering efforts of three young expatriate Bangladeshis, traditional crops once dependent on import are now being grown locally—fresh, organic, and year-round.
The trio—Habibur Rahman and Abdur Razzak from Cumilla, and Imdad Ullah from Naogaon—have launched an innovative farming project named Fresh Krishi. From a 3-hectare greenhouse in Epping, just outside London, they are growing beloved staples such as bottle gourd, red spinach (lal shak), Malabar spinach (poi shak), jute leaves (pat shak), brinjal, fenugreek, and beans. Advanced greenhouse technology allows them to extend the growing season to seven or eight months, defying Britain’s traditionally challenging climate.
“We’re now harvesting around 2,000 kilograms of vegetables daily,” said co-founder Abdur Razzak. “All of it goes straight to Bangladeshi markets in Whitechapel and Green Street.” Their target for this year: £300,000 in sales—approximately 50 million Bangladeshi taka.
The demand is strong. The UK market for Bangladeshi vegetables is estimated to be worth around 5 billion taka annually. Until now, most of this demand was met through imports from countries like Italy, often at the cost of freshness.
The journey wasn’t easy. Habibur Rahman began his agricultural career in Italy in 2003, eventually supplying vegetables across Europe. When he moved to the UK after Brexit, he faced steep hurdles: permits, land access, and a lack of local experience. Their first attempt in a dilapidated greenhouse failed entirely.
“I didn’t know how to adapt to the British climate or manage greenhouse systems,” Habibur admitted. “We lost money and nearly gave up.” But they persevered. In 2024, the group secured a better facility in Harlow and began operations with minimal capital, even using a hand-pulled tractor. That year, they earned £180,000 in sales.
Their focus is not just on quantity, but on quality. “Most Bangladeshi vegetables sold here come from Italy, and lose freshness in transit,” said Imdad Ullah. “We wanted to change that. Our crops are local, fresh, and organic.”
Every seed is imported from Bangladesh, and only organic fertilizers are used. Their eco-friendly, health-conscious approach has earned them recognition beyond the Bangladeshi community.
But their mission goes beyond business. “We’ve made it work,” said Abdur Razzak, “and now we want to help others do the same. There’s room for more growers in this market, and we’re ready to support them.”
Fresh Krishi is more than an agricultural venture—it's a story of resilience, cultural pride, and the realization of dreams on foreign soil.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
