MNCs, local biggies blamed for perpetuating farmers\\\' poverty

FE Report
Commercialisation of agriculture and manipulation of crop trade by multinationals and big local businesses are worsening poverty among farmers, experts said Sunday.
They said that although production of crop has been increasing gradually, improving the lives of farmers is the least priority.
Increasing prices of agricultural inputs, caused by involvement of multinational companies parallel to the price debacle in harvesting seasons are making farmers poorer, they said.
The observations came at a discussion meeting on "International Family Farming Year 2014: Ownership of Land, Voluntary Guideline on Accountable Administration for Water bodies and Forest; Viable Agricultural Investment: Bangladesh Perspective" held at the National Press Club in the city.
Unnayan Dhara, and Krishok Maitry with the cooperation from Action Aid and Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) organised the meeting.
Former member director of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Dr Khalequzzaman Akand, former Bangladesh representative of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Dr Zainal Abedin, IRRI consultant Dr M G Neogi, organic farming scientist at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Dr Nazim Uddin among others spoke athe meeting.
Unnayan Dhara executive director Md Shahidul Islam presented the keynote.     
Dr Zainal Abedin said that crop production has increased significantly in the last two decades.
The agriculture sector showed tremendous growth in terms of output but farmers got little form the development, Dr Abedin, said.
Dr Nazim Uddin said cost of agricultural inputs including seed, fertiliser, and irrigation, has increased significantly but farm produces in harvesting season always remained low.
"Farmers should be got fair price for their crops, which is key to the socio-economic development of the peasantry", he said.
Referring to the government's 'Akti Bari Akti Khamar (one house one farm),' Dr M G Neogi said the project could be an effective initiative to improve the economic condition of the farmers.
"But the project hasn't not been a non-starter due mainly to corruption and administrative bottleneck," he said.
Md Shahidul Islam said the peasantry is now in a trap of multinational companies and big traders.
He said prices of fertiliser, irrigation, seed, agro equipment like power tillers, thrashing machines have been increasing, but prices of crops are low in harvesting season.
He added that potato was sold at Tk 0.5 per kg in January by farmers, later the produce was sold at Tk10-12 per kg by big traders and cold storage owners.
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