DCCI calls for using farmers-friendly tech

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has called for using farmers-friendly technology for implementing smart agriculture in Bangladesh.
The trade body made the recommendation at a seminar titled "Smart Agriculture: Issues and Challenges in Value Chain Development" at the DCCI Motijheel office in the capital.
Addressing the seminar, speakers emphasised the need for low-cost locally-manufactured device and database to ensure a competitive price for farmers and policy support.
They also called for doing good agricultural practice (GAP) and utilising information and communications technology (ICT) for commercial farming.
Speaking on the occasion, DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed said, "We see at least 40 to 45 per cent post-harvest loss from the farmers to the customers."
He also said logistic chain and market chain are very important but separate challenges.
Mr Ahmed stressed the need for mitigating post-harvest losses, cool-chain and smoother transportation system for the benefits of the agriculture.
"We should develop a waste management system so that we could recycle the agriculture wastage into other products," he continued.
He identified inefficiencies in the supply chain, market access barriers and limited value addition are few bottlenecks for accelerating value chain development in the country's agriculture sector.
The DCCI president, however, said that the mobile financial service (MFS) network in Bangladesh is impressively strong.
"If we want, we can get the subsidy to the hand of farmers directly through MFS within a short time."
He also emphasised the need for an updated database to create a smart agriculture environment.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, state minister for commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu said that a full functioning one-point service desk would be established at the DCCI soon to provide online IRC and ERC issuance facilities to importers and exporters.
"By the end of this year, all services of the RJSC will also be paperless," he said.Mr Titu further said it is equally important to ensure better and logical price both for producers and consumers.
He underscored the need for a smooth supply chain process, including adequate organised commodity markets across the country.
The state minister also said that standardisation and certification process would ensure better and genuine product specifying the exact origin of variety.
He further said that the Logistic Policy 2024 is going to be a game changer for businessmen.
He reiterated the need for ICT backed research and innovation to bring in more diversification in our product basket.
Speaking as the special guest, Md Shamsul Arefin, secretary at the Information and Communication Technology Division, said, "We need to make our farmers or producers smart."
He also put stress on smart innovation, research and development and a strong knowledge based economy in the agriculture sector.
He further said that without a smart government no other sector could be smart.
He said smart citizen and skilled government officers having good human attribute, honesty and integrity will help government to be smart.
Malik Talha Ismail Bari, senior vice-president of the DCCI in his welcome remarks, said that in recent decades Bangladesh has made a significant stride in agricultural development.
The climate change poses a severe threat with an increasing frequency of floods, cyclones and droughts that disrupt agricultural productivity a lot, he said, adding that traditional farming practices often result in low productivity and inefficiencies.
"We must embrace smart agriculture solutions that leverage technology, data and innovative practices. Smart agriculture promises to revolutionise the way we cultivate, process and distribute our agricultural products," he added.
Fahad Ifaz, co-founder & CEO at the iFarmer Limited, presented the first keynote paper on "Opportunities of Frontier Tech Automation in Agro Value Chain".
He highlighted that frontier technology in agriculture can reduce information asymmetries for farmers, facilitate greater access to market and services, reduce cost, reduce climate impact, improve yielding.
According to McKinsey and Company, frontier technology in agriculture could potentially add $500 billion to world GDP by 2030, he added.
He also sought policy support for an improved technological ecosystem for the overall agro-system. He also called for a farmer-friendly smart agriculture data ecosystem.
Mohammad Sakib Khaled, senior manager at Programme, Swisscontact, presented another keynote paper on "Addressing Key Issues and Challenges of Smart Agricultural Value Chain".
In order to fight against the climate change we need a massive transformation of agriculture sector, he says.
He also said local investment in the livestock sector is increasing in Bangladesh and in the next 10 years it will double.
He said that limited supply of quality inputs, lack of good agricultural practices, post-harvest loss, climate vulnerability, lack of integrated supply chain and lack of policy implementation are responsible for our overarching gaps in the agriculture value chain.
He also recommended formulating and implementing agri-tech facilitating policies, ensuring digital literacy.
In the panel discussion session, Md Abdul Kader, national senior lead agronomist, FAO representation in Bangladesh, Anwar Faruque, vice-president at BSAFE Foundation and former secretary at the agriculture ministry, Dr Md Abu Bakkar Siddique, additional director at Agricultural Credit Department, Bangladesh Bank, Sayed Rizban Hussain, chief executive officer at Aqualink Bangladesh Limited, Dr Kashfia Ahmed, CEO and founder, Win Incorporate, Medina Ali, founder/CEO at Dr Chashi Incorporation, and Dr Muhammad Risalat Siddique, director and CEO at Kranti Associates Limited, took part in the programme.
DCCI vice-president Md Junaed Ibna Ali and members of the Board of Directors, among others, were present at the event.

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