Agronochain event explores market links, finance and blockchain for agriculture

Agronochain Limited brought together government representatives, financial institutions, development organisations and agricultural businesses at Sheraton Dhaka to discuss stronger market connections, post-harvest services and formal finance for farmers.

The event, titled "Optimising the Agricultural Ecosystem: Connecting, Financing & Streamlining Through Blockchain", marked the conclusion of Agronochain's eight-month project supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) alongside DSIK, according to the press release.

Discussions highlighted how fragmented connections between farmers, buyers and processors contribute to inconsistent supply, uncertain quality and limited transaction visibility.

Farmers also struggle to access reliable markets, preserve produce and demonstrate their income to lenders. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires cooperation between agricultural and financial institutions.

Chief Guest Zahir Uddin Swapon, MP and political adviser to the prime minister, called for farmers' interests, market security, and fair prices to remain central to agricultural policy.

He emphasised the need to make technology accessible to producers, improve preservation of perishable goods and develop sustainable, commercially viable solutions.

"I commend the organisers for convening such a significant and timely event. Since the current government's election, the honourable prime minister Tareq Rahman has prioritised agriculture alongside other key strategic sectors. To this end, he has already introduced the Farmer Card," he said.

"No matter how advanced technology becomes, our need for food means we will always depend on agriculture. Yet our society still too often undervalues farming. If we can safeguard the livelihoods of our country's farmers, we can secure our own lives as well."

Guests included Lalla Bouthaina El Kerdoudi El Koulali, Morocco's ambassador to Bangladesh.

Dr Valantine Achancho, country director of IFAD, and Ali M Khan, head of the IsDB Group Regional Hub Dhaka, attended as guests of honour. Jiaoqun Shi, FAO representative in Bangladesh, attended as a special guest, while Christina Olsen of Innovatech participated as a guest of distinction and patron.

The first panel, "Market Linkage: Connecting and Streamlining Agricultural Markets", brought together representatives of agricultural procurement businesses and market institutions.

Panellists included Tabith Awal, president of the Bangladesh Football Federation; Dr Rudaba Khondker, country director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN); M Shaifur Rahman Mazumdar, managing director of the Chittagong Stock Exchange; Shahjahan Sheikh, general manager for procurement at Nourish; and Gazi M Shamsuddin, CEO of the poultry business at Kazi Farm Limited.

The panel explored farmer-buyer connections, predictable procurement, transparent pricing and quality assurance, alongside storage and handling arrangements to reduce losses.

The second panel, "Financing Agriculture Through Stronger Financial Partnerships", examined agent banking, verified farmer information and transaction records, and cooperation between financial institutions and development partners.

Panellists included Mortuza Ali, head of agent banking at Bank Asia PLC; Hosna Ferdous Sumi, senior private sector specialist at the World Bank; and Chowdhury Liakat Ali, director of the Agricultural Credit Division (ACD-1) at Bangladesh Bank.

Imtiaz Farhan Bin Habib, CEO and co-founder of Agronochain, presented the company's approach as a digital clearinghouse connecting farmers, local agricultural entrepreneurs, buyers and financial institutions.

"The farmers there already have the determination to cultivate their land every year. Our responsibility is to help their harvest reach the opportunities around them. Farmers are the oldest entrepreneurs of civilisation. Let us connect them to help them," he said.

Agronochain develops agricultural supply-chain infrastructure that combines field services, deposit hubs known as "Amanot", and blockchain-enabled transaction records.

The company said its wider network covered more than 50,000 farmers across over 20 districts.