To ensure the demand of safe food for the local people, farmers market has been established in ward no.2 of DNCC. In this market, 10 farmers verified by the Department of Agricultural Extension as safe producer will sell their produced vegetables and fruits directly to the consumer. Through this market, safe vegetables and fruits will be easily accessible to the consumers and farmers will also get fair prices as there will be no middlemen. The market will be held on every Friday from 7 am to 2 pm. On 19^th August, 2022 at 10.00 am with support of Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dhaka North City Corporation, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, the Farmers’ Market in Ward No-2 of Dhaka North City Corporation was inaugurated and speakers opined such in the event.

Md Sajjad Hossain, Councilor, Ward No-2 of Dhaka North City Corporation, inaugurated the farmers’ market. The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Gaous Pearee, Director, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust and was moderated by Senior Project Manager Ziaur Rahman. Additional Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension Selina Begum, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations Dhaka Food System Project’s Senior Technical Advisor Xavier Bouan , Sustainable Agriculture Specialist MD Zahangir Alam, National Operation Specialist Silvi Razzaque, Former National Footballer Imtiaz Sultan Joni spoke on this ceremony. Also, Samaul Islam, Ward Secretary, Ward no.2, Dhaka North City Corporation, Md Nazrul Islam, Food System City Coordinator/DNCC, FAOBD, Businessman Farooq Ahmed and the resident of Pallabi block-A and C were also present on this ceremony.

Md Sajjad Hossain, Councilor of Ward No-2 of Dhaka North City Corporation, said that farmers’ market has been set up to ensure safe food to the residents. Here 10 farmers from Birulia will sell their safe vegetables. The market has been set in front of my office to ensure all facilities for the farmers including water, toilets etc. Our only demand is to ensure availability of safe food in this market.

Selina Begum, Additional Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension, said that the aim of Department of Agricultural Extension is to provide safe food for the people. For this reason, we have been involved in farmers market activities and we have helped Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust for the selection of safe farmers. We will continue this kind of activities and cooperation in the future as well.

Xavier Bouan, Senior Technical Advisor, Dhaka Food System Project, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, said that consumer can directly buy safe vegetables from the farmers in farmers’ market. To ensure the nutritional needs of the city dwellers, Dhaka North City Corporation, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations & Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust jointly took the initiative to establish the farmers market with the help of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. A total of 16 markets will be established under this project. We hope that farmers market will help to meet the nutritional needs of urban dwellers.

MD Zahangir Alam, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist of Dhaka Food System Project of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations, said that besides ensuring safe and nutritious food, farmers market will reduce the domination of the middlemen. As a result, farmers will get the right price for their produced food.  

Silvi Razzaque, National Operation Specialist, Dhaka Food System Project, said that the aim of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations is to work for improving people’s living standards. Farmers market is a part of this. Dhaka Food System Project is working to ensure the quality of food without using any harmful chemical or to use any chemical, fertilizer, or pesticide in a tolerable level for human body. And Dhaka Food System is also working to maintain the good quality of fresh markets.

Gaous Pearee, Director of WBB Trust, said that if unsafe food is purchased in a low price, then more money will have to be spent on treatment. It is better to buy a safe food on a little more price than this. She requested to the residents to help the farmers and said that such initiatives are very effective for the future generations.

Location : Ward No- 02 Commnunity Center, Pallabi ( In fornt of Councilor Office)