Farmers deserve social security

Agricultural output of crops and vegetables has increased encouragingly over the years. Many educated youth have become solvent by choosing agricultural sectors as their profession. But what is concerning is that farmers still rely on the middlemen for selling their harvest. They are not getting fair shares of their products' selling prices in markets due to changes of hands in the supply chain, poor transportation, inadequate storage capacities and poor market infrastructure. Vegetables are now being sold at high prices in big markets across the country. However, producers are not benefiting from such high prices of their produce. A lion's share of the money is going to merchants, retailers and middlemen. For example, brinjal sold at Tk 25 per kilogram from farms is now selling at Tk 60 in different Dhaka markets.

Middlemen have grown so powerful and rich that only a few can control the supply and prices of essentials of the market. On the other hand, most farmers have to take lease of land or bank loan to cultivate for the next season. It is unfortunate that those who ensure the nation's food security often do not have their own social security.

Rafid Alam,

Dhaka,

rafidalam80@gmail.com