Govt plans database to secure fair prices for farmers, consumers

The government plans to establish an agricultural market system that matches supply with demand to ensure fair prices for local farmers and consumers, according to Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid.

As part of the system, how much of each crop farmers produce will be recorded in a digital database, helping track supply and ensuring products are traded at fair prices as per demand, he said.

The minister made these remarks at a seminar organised by the Ministry of Agriculture at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium in Dhaka, marking World Food Day 2026, themeed “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”

The event was organised in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other development partners.

The minister identified market management as a major challenge facing the agricultural sector. At times, surplus goes to waste because of inadequate storage facilities, with shortages forcing consumers to pay higher, he said.

“Importantly, farmers are often deprived of fair prices for their produce,” he added.

Highlighting fluctuations in agricultural prices, the minister said tomatoes were selling at high prices in the market, while farmers often had to watch their produce rot in the fields during peak harvest seasons because they could not secure reasonable prices.

He said the government is  prioritising developing a stable market to address the issue.

The minister also called on researchers and scientists to play a leading role in producing pesticide-free, safe and internationally standardised agricultural products.

Emphasising the importance of safe food and modern farming, he said international demand for organic and non-genetically modified (non-GMO) products was growing.

Aminur also the government had taken a policy-level decision to reward scientists and their teams for groundbreaking innovations through one-time financial awards, while innovators would receive special recognition.

Jiaoqun Shi, FAO representative in Bangladesh, said innovation is not limited to new technologies, it also includes research, traditional knowledge, better policies, local entrepreneurship and stronger partnerships.”

Valantine Achancho, IFAD Country Director for Bangladesh, said investing in rural communities and small-scale farmers is important to improve food security.