The availability of safe food at an affordable price is challenge for the city dwellers. This challenge can be overcome by setting up farmers’ market in the urban areas. Farmers’ market is a place where farmers directly reach to the consumers with their safe foods in the absence of middlemen. As a result, consumers get safe and nutritious food supply and farmers get financial profit. Thus, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has taken the initiative to establish 6 Farmers’ Market under the project of Dhaka Food System in Dhaka South City Corporation, where 10 selected farmers, who are certified by Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Livestock and Department of Fisheries; will sell their safe produce directly to the consumers.

On 28^th June, 2022, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dhaka South City Corporation, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust jointly organized project launching meeting on “Establishing Neighbourhood Farmers’ Market in Dhaka South City Corporation” in Shitalakshya Hall of DSCC and speakers opined such in the event.

Mr. Farid Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation was present as the Chief Guest in the meeting. Moreover, Md Mahbubul Alam, councilor, ward No 1, Abul Bashar, councilor, ward No 19, Dr. Fazle Shamsul Kabir, Chief Health Officer; Md. Sirajul Islam, Chief Town Planner; Ms. Merina Naznin, Zonal Executive Officer, Zone -1; Mr. Babor Ali Mir, Zonal Executive Officer, Zone – 3; Md. Shahid Ullah, Panel Mayor; Sharifa Parvin, City Coordinator, Dhaka South City Corporation, FAOBD; Gaous Pearee, Director, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust; K J M Abdul Awal, Deputy Director, Department of Agricultural Extension; Md. Jashimuddin, Sub Assistant Officer, Livestock; BM Mostofa Kamal, Officer, District Fisheries of Dhaka South City Corporation were present in the meeting and voiced their views. The meeting was moderated by Ziaur Rahman, Senior Project Manager and keynote was presented by Naima Akter, Project Manager.

Farid Ahmad stated that Department of Agricultural Extension must play a vital role to select and monitor the farmers. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to ensure safe food.  Since the farmers’ market will be formed in an open space, so it would be tough to provide the storage system. So we have to decide what product to be sold. We have to ensure the consumers that we are supplying fresh and safe food by testing the sample in the Dhaka South City Corporation Food Laboratory. In that case we may include Bangladesh Food Safety Authority. We must provide training on modern technologies to the farmers to preserve the good in natural and safe way. We are going to set up local market in each ward. In that local market, we can provide a different place for the farmers so that the farmers’ market can sustain. Dhaka South City Corporation will provide necessary support to implement the project.

Md. Shahid Ullah shared that an integrated initiative is needed to manage market activities. If we want to assure the food safety, we must sell the vegetables, fish, meat separately. We can ensure the quality of food by testing them in Dhaka South City Corporation Food Laboratory. We can provide safe food to the city dwellers through successful implementation of farmers’ market. I hope the project will be successful and there will be cooperation from the City Corporation.

Mahbub Alam said that the ward No 1 is a good choice for the establishment of Farmers’ market, as it lacks local market. But we must focus on managing waste, unsold products, etc. And strict monitoring needs to be ensured to keep away vendors from the market to ensure food quality.

Abul Bashar said that as the initiative will ensure safe food, there will be cooperation from the Councilor Office. Rokon Uddin Ahmed said that the farmers’ market may face difficulties from the super shop, existing local market, and hawkers. So we need to ensure security of the farmers.

Merina Naznin, Zonal Executive Officer, Zone – 1; Sue Men Jo, Zonal Executive Officer, Zone – 2; Md. Sakhawat Hossain Sarker, Zonal Executive Officer, Zone – 5; Md. Sirajul Islam, Chief Town Planner, Dhaka South City Corporation;  Zahangir Alam, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations; Md. Mohibullah, Fresh Market Trainer and many more were present in the meeting.