The country's first-ever village super market (VSM) started its journey in Khulna this month, designed to bring framers and traders under one roof and cut out the role of middlemen in agribusiness.
The market was constructed at Dumuria upazila at a cost of 1.3 million Euros, funded by the Netherlands.
Conceptualised under a project named 'SaFaL' (Sustainable Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Linkages) of the Netherlands-based Solidaridad Network Asia, the market provides farmers and traders a new platform.
Since early in the morning, farmers, traders and exporters start arriving at the marketplace to display and trade agri produce grown in the district.
The main objective of the SaFaL project is to ensure fair price of agri produce through farmers' direct participation and developing a modern value supply chain in rural areas, officials said.
The project having three components -- fisheries, horticulture and dairy -- is being implemented in the seven southwestern districts under Khulna division.
It also has a target to increase participation of women in agribusiness and ensure proper nutrition of farm families.
The village super market has brought great relief to smallholder farmers who now get fair price of their produce.
Md Hafizur Rahman, a cabbage grower from Dumuria, came to the market with 60 kgs of cabbage recently and sold out all of them at Tk 12 per kg to traders directly.
"Earlier, I used to sell my produce to middlemen (locally known as faria). I have now sold the cabbage at Tk 12 per kg, whereas the farias were offering a rate of Tk 7.00- Tk 8.00 per kg," he told this correspondent on the market premises.
"We expect that this market could ensure fair price of our produce," he said.
Dipanakar Chowdhury, proprietor of Chowdhury Auction Centre at the village super market, told the FE that trading activities have started in the market a couple of weeks ago.
The market will gain traction within the next few months, with the presence of more farmers, he said.
The concept is totally new for the farmers, he said, adding that the marketplace is located in a strategically suitable area.
The SaFaL project has also developed a value chain of dairy products, shrimp and agri produce in the southern districts.
Under the project, more than 0.1 million farm households acquired knowledge of good agriculture practice (GAP) to produce safe foods, said officials.
Abdus Sattar, a dairy farmer at Khornia union of Dumuria, also grows grass using hydroponics method.
He also produces vermicompost, a kind of organic fertiliser, under the SaFaL project.
The marketplace is playing an important role in ensuring fair prices of their products, he told the FE.
Md Zahirul Islam Khan, proprietor of Agrotech BD, a potato and vegetable exporter, came to the market to assess the export potentials.
He was especially looking for cabbage, local beans and brinjal for the purpose of export.
The chilling and packaging facilities in the market will facilitate the export of vegetables and fruits, he told the FE.
Arif Azad Prince, managing director of Masawa Agro Ltd., another exporter, said export of cabbage and shrimp from Dumuria will now be more profitable.
Once the Padma bridge is built, it would be easier to export other vegetables from Dumuria, he added.
He also said the government should build such marketplaces in the country's vegetable hubs like Mahasthan in Bogura, Narsingdi, Manikganj, Cumilla and Rangpur.
SM Nazimuddin Payel, architect of the Dumuria VSM and also a teacher in Khulna University, told the FE that the market spanning over 86,000 square feet area is equipped with all necessary facilities.
The market boasts a total of 30 auction centres spread over 20,000 square feet, three FIQC certified depots, sorting and grading space, washing facilities with HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)-guided packing house, he said.
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Harry Verweij told the FE that it is an advance market transformation idea to create a high-end market point for producers.
He went to the market recently to inaugurate an agent banking branch of Bank Asia at the VSM.
"Potential big buyers can source the agri produce directly from the farmers through this VSM," said the envoy.
If it becomes into a full functional stage, it may create a good business model in the region, he added.
"Therefore, involvement of the right actors is critical for the successful demonstration of such a business model," he said.
He also said Solidaridad is working with more than 0.1 million smallholder farmers and helping them access better market for their produce.
Country Manager of Solidaridad (Bangladesh) Selim Reza Hasan said more than 1,500 producers can display and trade their produce in the market every day.
He said the SaFaL programme has been working since 2012 in seven coastal districts of Bangladesh to strengthen business linkages in order to unlock the market potentials for smallholder farmers.
The project is facilitating adoption of climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive farming and market opportunities for improved availability, accessibility and affordability of nutritious food, he said.
Senior Manager (Supply Chain and Business Development) of Solidaridad Md Moziball Hoque said the state-of-the-art infrastructure in the VSM will minimise pre- and post-handling loss that will help reduce material cost and improve quality and shelf life of agro produce.
