Roni Akand Special Correspondent Joypurhat:
It is not enough to increase the production of farmers, it is also important to ensure fair prices for the products produced. Sometimes, due to the decrease in market prices, farmers are forced to sell vegetables and other perishable products at low prices. This does not even increase the cost of production. If mini cold storage is introduced at the local level, farmers will be able to store their products for a few days and wait for the market prices to increase. On the one hand, this will reduce the losses of farmers, and on the other hand, they will get the opportunity to get a fair price for their products. State Minister for Public Administration and Food Abdul Bari MP has commented that such storage facilities need to be further increased in the interest of farmers.
He said these things during the inauguration of the mini cold storage in the Kalai Weekly Hat Bazar area on Friday (August 28) afternoon.
He also said that agriculture cannot be based only on production. Modern and effective systems must be developed at every stage, starting from production to storage, transportation, marketing and processing. If the wastage of agricultural products is reduced, on the one hand, the income of the farmer will increase, and on the other hand, it will be easier for consumers to keep the market stable. To strengthen the farmer, the market for his products must be ensured. It is important to ensure the proper price of the farmer’s sweat, labor and production costs. Various government incentives and development programs are being taken in the interest of the farmer. To ensure that the benefits of these programs reach the real marginal farmers, all concerned must play a more responsible and sincere role.
Joypurhat Deputy Commissioner Al Mamun Mia, Deputy Director of the District Agricultural Extension Department Manju Alam Sarkar, Kalai Upazila Executive Officer Faisal Ahmed, Upazila Agriculture Officer Harunur Rashid, Kalai Upazila BNP Convener Ibrahim Hossain, Joint Convener Moudud Alam Sarkar, Kalai Municipality BNP Convener Sajjadur Rahman Sohel Talukder, along with officials and farmers of the Agriculture Department were present at the inauguration ceremony.
According to Agriculture Department sources, Kalai is an agriculturally dominant area. Farmers here produce various types of vegetables throughout the year. However, due to the lack of adequate storage facilities for the produce, even though the market prices are low, they are often forced to sell vegetables immediately. Especially during the season, when a large amount of vegetables are sold at the same time, the prices drop significantly. This makes many farmers unable to cover their production costs. If they cannot sell them on time, these perishable vegetables spoil, further increasing the losses of the farmers. In such a situation, the establishment of mini cold storage near the market is seen by the concerned as an important initiative for the farmers. Since there is an opportunity to store vegetables in this new storage facility, if the market price is low, the farmers will be able to store them for a few days instead of selling them immediately. Later, if the market price is comparatively good, there will be an opportunity to get the desired price by marketing the stored vegetables. This will reduce the wastage of agricultural products and will also increase the possibility of ensuring a fair price for the farmers’ products.
The farmers of Kalai hope that if this mini cold storage, built at a cost of about 18 lakh taka, is operated regularly and transparently, it will not be limited to being a facility for storing agricultural products. Rather, it will play an important role in ensuring fair prices for local farmers’ produce, increasing income, and further strengthening the agriculture-based economy.