Bangladesh’s farmers, fish growers, and small-scale producers constitute one of the fundamental pillars of the national economy. The country’s food security, rural economy, and a significant portion of industrial raw materials depend on their labor, sweat, and risk-taking. Yet, paradoxically, despite being the most crucial stakeholders in the production process, they often receive the smallest share of the profits. Instead, middlemen operating at various levels of the supply chain capitalize on their intermediary position between producers and consumers, capturing a disproportionate share of the gains. As a result, producers are deprived of fair prices, while consumers are forced to pay inflated costs. This contradiction represents a long-standing structural weakness in Bangladesh’s agricultural marketing system—one that now demands urgent and effective reform.

Every year, we witness the same troubling scenario. The prices of potatoes, onions, tomatoes, chilies, and other seasonal vegetables frequently collapse below production costs. Farmers are often compelled to sell tomatoes at just 5 or 6 taka per kilogram in the field, only to see the same produce sold in urban markets a few hours later for 30 or 40 taka—or even more. Similar patterns are evident in the markets for milk, eggs, fish, and fruits. Such vast disparities between producer and consumer prices are not indicative of a healthy market economy; rather, they reveal weaknesses, inefficiencies, and excessive dependence on intermediaries within the supply chain.

One of the root causes of this problem is the limited bargaining power of farmers. Most farmers in Bangladesh are smallholders with restricted production capacity, limited capital, and little to no access to storage facilities. After harvesting, they often lack the means to preserve their produce for an extended period. Pressed by the need to repay loans, support their families, and prepare for the next cultivation season, they are forced to sell quickly. This vulnerability is exploited by traders, brokers, commission agents, and other intermediaries who purchase products at low prices during harvest seasons and later sell them at significantly higher prices, earning substantial profits.

To be fair, intermediaries are not inherently unnecessary. Transportation, storage, logistics, and distribution services are essential components of any modern supply chain. Problems arise, however, when the number of intermediary layers becomes excessive and certain groups acquire disproportionate control over the market. In many cases, agricultural products pass through four or five different hands before reaching consumers. At each stage, prices increase, yet only a negligible portion of that added value returns to the producer.

Even more concerning are the frequent allegations of market syndicates and price manipulation. Artificial shortages are sometimes created to drive prices upward, while producers are forced to sell their goods at abnormally low prices during harvest seasons. Such practices undermine fair competition and harm both producers and consumers. In a properly functioning market, prices should be determined by supply and demand. In reality, however, influential groups often play a decisive role in setting market prices to serve their own interests.

Responsibility for this situation cannot be placed solely on dishonest market actors. The state must also engage in serious self-reflection. More than five decades after independence, Bangladesh has yet to establish a modern, technology-driven, and producer-friendly agricultural marketing infrastructure. Many regions still lack adequate cold storage facilities, modern warehouses, efficient collection centers, and reliable transportation networks. Consequently, farmers are denied the opportunity to hold their products until market conditions become favorable.

In many countries around the world, agricultural cooperatives play a vital role in marketing farm products. Through cooperative-based systems, producers can sell directly to wholesalers, retailers, or even consumers, thereby reducing the number of intermediaries and ensuring fairer returns. Bangladesh has a long history of cooperative movements, yet this potential has not been fully harnessed in agricultural marketing. The time has come to revisit and strengthen this approach.

At the same time, greater use of digital technology is essential. Online agricultural marketplaces, digital auction platforms, and direct producer-to-consumer networks can significantly enhance transparency. Farmers would gain access to real-time market information and better understand where they can secure the best prices for their products. Consumers, in turn, would be able to see how much of the price they pay actually reaches the producer.

The government must also adopt a more proactive role in monitoring agricultural markets. Agencies responsible for consumer protection, competition oversight, and market regulation should move beyond periodic enforcement drives and focus on long-term structural reforms. Regular data collection and public disclosure regarding price movements, supply chain costs, and abnormal profit margins at different stages of the marketing process are essential for promoting transparency and accountability.

It is important to recognize that ensuring fair prices for farmers is not merely an economic issue; it is a matter of social justice, food security, and sustainable development. If farmers repeatedly suffer losses, many may abandon agriculture altogether. The consequences would extend far beyond individual households, affecting national production, food supplies, and the broader economy.

Bangladesh is steadily progressing toward middle-income status. We take pride in the country’s achievements across various development indicators. Yet such progress cannot be considered complete if the farmers who safeguard our food security are denied fair compensation for their labor. Establishing a balance between the interests of producers and consumers, reducing the undue influence of middlemen, and building a transparent and competitive market system are no longer optional policy goals—they are fundamental responsibilities of the state.

Ensuring that the value of farmers’ hard work is not swallowed by excessive intermediary profits should be among policymakers’ highest priorities. For when farmers thrive, agriculture prospers; and when agriculture prospers, the foundations of the nation’s economy and food security remain strong and resilient.

Md. Mukhlesur Rahman
Agricultural Entrepreneur, Economist, Social Thinker, and Human Rights Activist
mukhles1975@gmail.com