Farmers visit Meena Bazar to promote farm-to-retail collaboration, good agricultural practices
As part of its continued commitment to food safety, sustainable sourcing and strengthening Bangladesh's agricultural value chain, Meena Bazar hosted a special farmers' engagement programme involving 50 agricultural entrepreneurs from different regions of the country.
The initiative was organised in collaboration with the Hortex Foundation and focused on promoting direct farmer-to-retailer connectivity through Good Agricultural Practices.
The programme was attended by Ministry of Agriculture Joint Secretary Dr Jahangir Alam as an observer, alongside a group of successful agri-entrepreneurs actively practising GAP-based farming methods.
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During the visit, participating farmers were given first-hand exposure to Meena Bazar's product collection systems, preservation processes, quality assurance practices and retail operations at the superstore level.
The initiative aimed to enhance transparency across the agricultural supply chain and create stronger market access opportunities for farmers.
According to the organisers, the participation of government representatives and direct engagement with farmers will contribute significantly to improving supply chain efficiency, ensuring safer food distribution and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices nationwide.
Meena Bazar's commitment to safe and sustainable food
Speaking at the event, Meena Bazar Head of Agro Project Md Rafiqul Islam said there is no alternative to direct engagement with farmers in ensuring safe food for consumers.
"Through initiatives like this, the agricultural supply chain becomes more transparent, accountable and efficient. Customers can be more confident about receiving high-quality, safe and responsibly sourced products directly from the fields," he said.
"Back to Root": A direct sourcing initiative by Meena Bazar
Under its "Back to Root" initiative, Meena Bazar has been sourcing products directly from farmers for several years to ensure freshness, traceability and fair pricing.
The initiative is designed to maintain strict quality control standards while reducing dependency on intermediaries within the supply chain.
By sourcing directly from GAP-compliant farms, Meena Bazar ensures that agricultural products retain their integrity and freshness from farm to shelf.
The initiative also helps farmers receive fair market value for their produce while enabling customers to enjoy fresher products with reduced handling, transportation delays and storage time.
In addition to improving food quality and supply chain transparency, the initiative contributes to reducing post-harvest waste and supports the long-term sustainability of Bangladesh's agricultural ecosystem.
Meena Bazar Chief Operating Officer Shameem Ahmed Jaigirder emphasised the strategic vision behind the initiative.
"Our goal is to build a direct and sustainable connection between small-scale farmers and consumers through Meena Bazar. We want to empower farmers by ensuring fair value for their produce while delivering fresher and safer products to customers," he said.
"'Back to Root' reflects our long-term commitment to strengthening local agriculture and building a more transparent food supply chain," he added.
Meena Bazar said it will continue organising similar initiatives regularly as part of its broader commitment to bringing freshness to customers' lives through responsible sourcing, farmer empowerment and the modernisation of Bangladesh's agricultural supply chain.
