Middlemen are a double-edged sword in the agricultural landscape of Bangladesh, a nation where approximately 80 per cent of the population is engaged in the agricultural sector. While farmers strive to cultivate crops to meet both domestic needs and international export demands, they are encountering mounting challenges in sustaining their livelihoods. The hurdles they face include escalating expenses of agricultural inputs such as high-yielding seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural machinery.
Despite their toil and investment, the compensation they receive for their produce falls short of equitable return. This disparity is primarily attributed to the pervasive influence of middlemen, augmented by the presence of local brokers who operate within the agricultural supply chain.
The involvement of these intermediaries comes at a cost, one that burdens farmers and distorts the fair pricing mechanism. By denying a fair price to farmers, these middlemen erode farmers' economic viability. This trend poses a significant economic threat to the nation, as a dwindling interest in farming among its populace would compromise not only food security but also the broader economic stability of the country.
Addressing this multifaceted challenge requires concerted efforts from the relevant authorities. Agricultural market dynamics need transformation, ensuring that farmers receive fair and transparent compensation for their produce. Effective measures to mitigate the undue influence of middlemen and empower farmers with better market access and negotiation capabilities are imperative. Only through such interventions can Bangladesh safeguard its agricultural backbone and avert the looming economic peril posed by the marginalisation of its farming communities.
Rasel Ahmed
Student, Mass Communication and Journalism
Dhaka University
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