The government is going to set up markets meant for the farmers in 64 districts of the country in phases abolishing the middlemen system so that they get fair price for their agricultural produces.

Director General of the agriculture marketing department Mohammad Yusuf confirmed the matter to this correspondent on Friday.

“We are going to set up farmers' markets in 45 districts on a temporary basis. After that, such markets with light infrastructure will be set up in 64 districts spending Tk 10 crore.”

We will give it a permanent form gradually, he said adding, a project worth Tk 200 crore will be undertaken to make it a reality.

Farmers can come directly to these markets and sell their organic agricultural produces without paying any kind of toll. If necessary, the government will provide transport facility to help the farmers bring their produces from the farms to these makeshift markets.

A handful of officials of the agriculture ministry told Bangladesh Post that the government is working towards achieving two things simultaneously --- in the one hand, focusing on the production of organic agricultural produces and on the other hand, ensuring fair price for the farmers.

Those organic produces grown under the supervision of agricultural officers will then be taken to the designated markets which will be initially set up on a temporary basis, which will later be given concrete shapes in future by building proper infrastructure.

We have picked up two villages from each upazila to produce safe agricultural produces and agriculture officers have been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the whole process (from cultivation to harvesting), Agriculture Ministry Secretary Md. Nasiruzzaman told Bangladesh Post.  

He added, “We are proceeding very carefully in terms of marketing so that we can build a sustainable system in the long run.”

About selling these produces at the local markets he said, “Usually the wholesalers buy the produces from the farmers. But if there is a farmer's market, the farmers will be able to sell their produce directly at the district level which will definitely benefit them.”

However, he admitted the fact that it is not an easy task and that’s why they have implored everyone concerned to do their bits to make this initiative a success.

“We want to develop a safe system through which the fresh produces could come directly into our kitchen”, Nasiruzzaman said while adding, a market for farmers would be set up centrally in the capital where vegetables, fish, molasses, honey and other agricultural produces will be on display.

It is mentionable that owing to the detrimental effects of chemicals their excessive use in agricultural produces has always been a cause célèbre. That’s why the importance of organic produces is being underscored by health experts.

Taking such points into account, the government, of late, has taken various steps to meet the nutritional needs of the denizens by ensuring the production of organic agricultural produces.