Khani demands formation of Agriculture Price Commission to protect farmers
Presenters shared field-level findings highlighting the daily struggles of marginal farmers and the imbalance between policy and real-world implementation
In a bid to ensure fair prices for farmers and safeguard the country's agriculture sector, Bangladesh Food Security Network (Khani), an organisation working on food security and farmer rights, has strongly demanded the immediate formation of an "Agriculture Price Commission."
The demand was raised today (17 July) at a Media Cafe titled "Protecting Farmers: Why an Agriculture Price Commission Needed" held at The Daily Star Centre, jointly organised by Khani and Participatory Research and Action Network (PRAAN).
Presenters shared field-level findings highlighting the daily struggles of marginal farmers and the imbalance between policy and real-world implementation.
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They emphasised that despite price regulation systems existing in other sectors such as tobacco, electricity, and pharmaceuticals, the agriculture sector lacks any such institutional protection.
Speakers drew attention to recent farmer suicides as stark reminders of the crisis. They argued that volatile markets, the absence of fair pricing, and disparities between production and supply chains are making farmers' lives unbearable. They asserted that forming a price commission would not only prevent further farmer suicides but also strengthen rural economies and contribute to broader national development.
Speaking at the event as the chief guest, Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian said, "The biggest challenge in the agriculture sector is accurate data and statistics. Data manipulation has been part of the system for many years. Accurate statistics can significantly benefit farmers."
He added that six agricultural hotspots have been identified and divided into nine thematic areas to shape a 25-year development plan for the sector.
Additional Secretary Dr Md Mahmudur Rahman said, "We want to ensure fair prices through this proposed commission. The idea of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 23 major crops, as practised in India, is under active consideration.
However, we must carefully think about how to implement it for perishable goods."
He also highlighted that the government has already started working on a strategic plan for this. "This year, Tk37,000 crore in agricultural loans have been distributed, and for the first time, farmers were directly consulted while setting prices for paddy and rice."
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, voiced strong support for the commission but stressed the importance of farmer representation in its structure.
Experts at the event also called for effective measures to ensure debt relief for farmers, the introduction of crop insurance, the establishment of modern storage systems for agricultural produce, and actions to curb the exploitation by middlemen.
