12 farmer markets are running in Dhaka North and South City Corporation with the aim of providing safe and nutritious food to Dhaka residents. Markets can be made permanent with the cooperation of concerned councilors, city corporations, and the Ministry of Agriculture. The speakers of an exchange meeting expressed the opinion that the media can play a role in making the markets sustainable by promoting farmers' markets through the news coverage.
Naima Akter, project manager, WBB Trust presented the keynote presentation at the exchange meeting moderated by Ziaur Rahman, senior project manager of the same organization. Rafiqul Islam Sabuj, Senior Reporter of Kaler Kantha, Mandi De Costa, Staff Reporter of Ajker Newspaper, Al Fatah Mamun, Reporter of Banik Barta, Chief Reporter of Dhaka Prakash, Nazmul Haque Bipul, Yahia Naqib, Staff Reporter of Dainik Jankantha, Syed Riyad, Staff Reporter of Pratidin Bangladesh, Mizan Rahman, Senior Reporter of Pratidin Sangbad, and many others spoke in the meeting.
Speakers at the meeting said that the farmers' market has received a positive response from consumers. In view of this, markets need to be made permanent. Since the markets are being conducted in the city corporation area, the role and commitment of the local councilors and the city corporation in determining the locations are very important. It is not possible to sustain the market with projects. If the markets are handed over to the City Corporation, they will be easily sustainable by ensuring financial allocation.