Farmers’ Markets is a timely initiative to ensure safe food for consumers and fair prices for farmers. It is possible to play a vital role in improving public health and strengthening the local economy if area-based Farmers’ Market is established in each ward of Dhaka city.
With the aim to reduce distance between farmers and consumers, an area-based weekly Farmers’ Market was launched in the area of Ward No. 32 of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Friday (November 11).
The weekly makeshift market was established behind Lalmatia Mahila College under the ‘Dhaka Food System Project’ of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (FAO).
Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust is implementing the project with the support of Netherlands Government. The DNCC and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) are providing support in establishing the market. Ten safe farmers certified by the DAE from Tentuljhora area in Savar will sell vegetables and fruits every Friday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm in the market.
Syed Hasan Noor Islam Rashtan, Councilor from Ward No. 32 of DNCC, inaugurated the Farmers’ Market. Ziaur Rahman, senior project manager of the WBB Trust, moderated the event, while Gaous Pearee, director at WBB Trust, and others spoke on the occasion.
In his speech, Syed Hasan Noor Islam Rashtan said that the Farmers’ Market has been launched to provide safe products produced by farmers directly to consumers. “If we succeed, the farmers will benefit, not the middlemen. The farmers will become interested in safe farming. I call upon residents of the area to help in running the market properly,” he added.
In her speech, Gaous Pearee said that it is not possible to meet the safe food needs of the entire community with only ten farmers. However, this market is a model, which can easily be followed in other areas.
