Staff Reporter :
Agriculture experts and policymakers have urged the government to immediately establish an independent Agricultural Price Commission to safeguard farmers’ interests and stabilise the nation’s most employment-intensive sector.
At a recent event titled “Protecting the Farmers: The Case for an Agricultural Price Commission”, held at The Daily Star Centre and jointly organised by Khani and Participatory Research and Action Network (PRAAN), speakers highlighted the urgent need for institutional price regulation in agriculture-similar to regulatory frameworks already in place in sectors like electricity, tobacco, and pharmaceuticals.
Despite being one of the largest contributors to food security and employment, Bangladesh’s agriculture sector remains vulnerable to price volatility, climate shocks, and exploitation by middlemen, due to the absence of a price control mechanism.
Agricultural economist Jahangir Alam Khan stressed that a price commission could announce minimum support and procurement prices based on scientific analysis, considering both local and global markets. He noted that the National Agricultural Policy 2018 already recommends forming such a body to protect farmers and consumers alike.
According to data presented at the event, Bangladesh ranks among the world’s top 10 producers of 22 major crops, including 3rd in rice and vegetables, 1st in jute, 5th in aquaculture, and 7th in potatoes.
However, growth in the agriculture sector has slowed significantly, registering just 1.79percent in FY2024-25-the lowest in over a decade-mainly due to floods, droughts, and erratic rainfall, as highlighted by Umme Salma, programme coordinator at PRAAN.
Alarming trends in agricultural employment were also discussed. From 2000 to 2025, the share of the workforce in agriculture dropped from 62percent to 35.27percent, raising concerns over farmer retention.
Prof. Sharmind Neelormi of Jahangirnagar University added that both male and female participation in agriculture has declined since 2016, indicating a broader systemic issue.
Speakers also pointed out the lack of government procurement. Former agriculture secretary Anwar Faruque noted that while West Bengal procures 20percent of its rice, Bangladesh buys less than 1percent, making price stability nearly impossible.
Other panellists, including ActionAid’s Farah Kabir, PRAAN’s Nurul Alam Masud, and former DAE DG Md Abdul Muyeed, emphasized the need for climate-resilient planning, inter-ministerial coordination, and public awareness.
Government representatives, including Additional Secretary Md Mahmudur Rahman and Secretary Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, acknowledged the challenges and said strategic planning is underway, including a 25-year roadmap and development of accurate agricultural data systems to better support farmers.
