The supply chain for vegetables in Bangladesh has been highlighted for its inefficiencies and exploitative practices, according to an investigation by the Bangladesh Shop Owners' Association. The findings, documented in a nine-page report titled "Vegetable Price Differences at Producer and Consumer Levels: Analysis, Causes and Remedies", outline a series of irregularities affecting over 156 types of vegetables, including essential food items such as cauliflower, cabbage, and tomatoes. The report indicates that the journey of products from farms to consumer tables involves multiple payments at various stages, contributing to higher prices for consumers and lower earnings for farmers.
Helal Uddin, the association's president, emphasized the role of unnecessary costs in inflating consumer prices and suggested that employing specialized trucks for transportation could reduce expenses. The investigation also sheds light on the challenges farmers face when attempting to sell their produce directly to markets, including the need to navigate through middlemen and an "invisible" syndicate that dictates pricing. This often results in unsold and wasted produce if farmers refuse to comply with the set prices.
Furthermore, the report details the prevalence of extortion within the Karwan Bazar area, involving various groups such as pavement workers and corrupt officials, which occurs at different frequencies and adds to the overall cost burden on suppliers. The association's findings suggest that addressing these systemic issues could lead to more equitable pricing and improved access to vegetables for consumers in Bangladesh.
Source: daily-sun.com
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