Independiente Diálogo
Enfoque geográfico:
Bangladesh
Discussion topic outcome
Discussion Topic 1.1: Market system, supply chains, and urban-rural connectivity - Challenges In the prevailing subsistence-agriculture system in Bangladesh, small scale producers are the major contributor in the market systems. Foods travel not only from rural to urban areas, but from urban to rural, as well. Mostly fresh, unprocessed foods are transported from rural to urban markets, while processed and semi-processed foods make their way from urban areas to rural markets. Foods grown by limited usage of fertilizers and pesticides are considered safer among consumers. Rural areas are mainly
... Leer másconsidered as production centers, middlemen are believed to be transporters engaged in short-term storages and distributions, and urban people are chiefly consumers. In Bangladesh, food safety is an enduring issue and intertwining challenge due to consumption of contaminated, unsafe, and unhygienic foods that have long-term multi-faceted adverse effects on people. Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, virus, parasites, fungi or chemicals (pesticides/ fungicides/ antimicrobial / heavy metals) cause more than 200 diseases and about 600 million people suffer from illness every year in the world. It has adverse effects on health, livelihoods, economic, social, political and environmental dimension of the society, which needs to be addressed with appropriate policy initiatives. Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers, and consumers. Everyone has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy. Major challenges: • Rural market systems are quite different from urban markets, though rural markets are the major marketing systems prevailing in the country. • Supply chain is still traditional following age-old practices resulting in food loss and deterioration in quality and economic value. Modern trades, though slowly improving, constitute only 2% of the total market volume. • Transportation of agri-products from producers’ to consumers is very time consuming, often hazardous, and expensive. • There is no or very limited cooling facilities available along the value chains. • In most rural markets and urban growth centers, foods get contaminated by unhygienic environment, polluted water, and inappropriate handling, transportation, and storage • Vegetables and fruits are not treated hygienically, which results in contamination and loss of freshness and nutrients • Farmers are reluctant to grow safe foods using less pesticides as they think those products cannot attract consumers’ attention in the markets, compared to products grown with excessive application of fertilizers and pesticides. • More than 95% of the consumers in the market do not want to pay extra price for safe foods. • At most rural and urban growth centers/ marketplaces, running water supply, sorting, packaging and storage facilities are unavailable. • At urban points, departmental stores/ super-shops have potentials to offer safe foods but they constitute only about 1% of the supplies • Sometimes, agricultural and non-agricultural products are transported altogether, which augments the risk of cross-contamination and food loss • Transportation of agri-products from producers point to consumer point is very time consuming, often hazardous and expensive. Leer menos
Línea(s) de Acción: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Palabras clave: Finance, Governance, Innovation, Policy, Women & Youth Empowerment