Govt plans to launch digital platform to link farmers directly with buyers: Minister
The minister said the government has taken initiatives to modernise agriculture, increase production, and ensure fair prices through advanced technologies and market reforms.
The government plans to launch a digital "Smart Agriculture Market" platform to directly connect farmers, buyers, and consumers, aiming to ensure transparency and fair pricing, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid told parliament yesterday (29 April).
He said this while replying to a starred question from opposition lawmaker Masum Mostafa, elected from Netrakona-5, at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
The minister said the government has taken initiatives to modernise agriculture, increase production, and ensure fair prices through advanced technologies and market reforms.
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"High-value and high-yielding crop varieties are being developed to boost production through agricultural modernisation. At the same time, farmers are being supported to cultivate these crops efficiently," he said.
He added that data-driven precision agriculture has been introduced to reduce production costs and increase farmers' income.
Technologies such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, drones, and nanotechnology will be used to transform the sector into a smart, efficient, and sustainable system, he said.
To ensure fair prices alongside increased production, the minister said several measures have been adopted.
He said the prime minister inaugurated the pre-piloting of the Farmer Card in 11 upazilas on Pahela Baishakh.
"Among the ten services embedded in the card, one key benefit is enabling farmers to sell their produce at fair prices."
Under the Partner Project, one-stop service hubs will be set up to provide inputs, advisory services, collection points, marketing, and washing facilities.
He added that 25-member Farmer Business Schools are being formed, bringing together farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and traders to help ensure fair pricing through collective action.
The minister also said seed prices produced by contracted growers under Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation are being fixed in line with local market rates and production costs to ensure fair returns for farmers.
