Another online marketplace coming for farmers

KRISHOKER BAZAR SHIFTS ONLINE
▪    A database will list wholesalers, middlemen, institutional buyers and sellers
▪    Advertisements will be taken only after verifying product quality
▪    Guidelines for product quality, preservation, payment and dedicated transportation
▪    Advertisers will be penalised if products are not delivered as per commitment
▪    Marketplace will be monitored by the Department of Agricultural Marketing

The government is going to launch another online marketplace for agro products to reduce the problems they face in marketing – especially during this time of pandemic.

According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, the krishokerbazar.gov.bd portal will kick off ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

The authorities will create a database of wholesalers, middlemen, institutional buyers and retail sellers in this market.

Those who advertise products here will also have a specific database. Advertisements will be taken only after verifying product quality. There will be specific guidelines for buyers and sellers and if the products are not delivered as per the commitment, advertisers will be penalised.

This is going to be the second state-sponsored online marketplace. Earlier, an online marketplace called Food for Nation was officially launched for the marketing of agricultural products.

However, except for the sale of mango and lychee, the sale of other agricultural products has not been as popular on this portal.

Back in December 2019, a market called Krishoker Bazar (farmers market) kicked off at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka where farmers directly brought their produce and sold it. A farmers' market was scheduled to be built in every district across the country in this manner.

But due to the novel coronavirus, popularity of the market has dwindled. Farmers could not market their produce during the countrywide general holiday and suffered when the supply chain broke down.

After this, the idea of modernising the marketing system for agricultural products began to grow, leading to the birth of the online portals.

Mohammed Yousuf, director general of the Department of Agricultural Marketing, told The Business Standard, "This online marketplace is being set up to modernise the marketing system for agricultural products. Here we are working to create a platform for farmers, wholesalers, middlemen, institutional buyers and sellers."

The market will be directly monitored by the Department of Agricultural Marketing under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture.

It will have a call centre. Farmers who are unable to advertise their products directly can reach out to the call centre and local agricultural officers will assist them.

The authorities will make a guideline for buyers and sellers on the quality of products, preserving products in cold storages and using a dedicated transportation system. They will also create a central payment system.

According to sources involved with the project, these activities will be done after the launch of the platform.

Asked how the quality of products would be controlled, Assistant Director of the department Mohammad Zahidul Islam stated an example, "Everyone has suspicion regarding the quality of honey.

To remove this suspicion, it will be advertised only after the honey is tested."

The official said that women workers processing agricultural products will also be connected to the portal.

He said a lot of women make many products, including pickles and ghee, at home. Marketing of their products will also be given importance on this portal.