By Bishwajit Mondal, Shyamnagar, Satkhira

A discussion meeting was held recently on strategies for establishing a market for locally produced agricultural products. The event was organized by the Paschim Jelekhali Joba Krishi Nari Sangathan with the support of BARCIK. The meeting was chaired by Bhudhar Chandra Mondal, president of the Paschim Jelekhali Farmers’ Association, and was attended by 40 participants, including members of the agroecology learning centre (ALC), teachers, students, and local farmers.

The discussion focused on the challenges farmers face in cultivation, sales, and marketing of their produce, as well as possible initiatives to overcome these obstacles. In this regard Senior farmer Shibpada Maji said, “I have been engaged in farming since childhood. I cultivate rice, vegetables, pulses, spices, and mustard. Additionally, I rear native ducks, chickens, cows, and goats and cultivate various fruit trees and local fish in my pond. Most of my farming is done organically.’ He went on saying, ‘I have been growing the indigenous Swarna Mashuri rice variety for a long time. Previously, I cultivated traditional rice varieties like Chinikani, Patnai, and Malageti, but unfortunately, I lost their seeds. However, since Swarna Mashuri has a good yield, I have conserved its seeds, and a few other farmers in my village also grow it.”

Women farmers Bidyutlata, Champa, and Purnima shared their experiences saying, “Despite many challenges, we continue farming. We are increasing the use of organic fertilizers, but we are unable to sell our produce at fair prices. We still have traditional crops like bananas, papayas, taro, yams, turmeric, mustard, lentils, drumsticks, and various fruits, as well as livestock. We are also producing and using vermicompost. However, the main problem is that production costs are rising, but there is no proper market system.” They went on saying, “Due to poor transportation facilities, and since most men work outside the village, women are forced to sell produce at lower prices. Although vermicompost usage is increasing, selling its raw materials (fertilizer and earthworms) remains a challenge. If we could use them ourselves and also sell them externally, it would be profitable for us.”

Considering these issues, the local farmers proposed several solutions to improve the marketing of their agricultural products. The solutions include: Establishing local markets, developing better storage facilities, creating opportunities for online sales, promoting agricultural products through different channels, preparing a structured list of crops for market sales and strengthening connections with fertilizer and seed suppliers, nursery owners, and government and private institutions

Farmers expressed their hopes that implementing these initiatives would ensure fair prices for their produce and make farming more sustainable.