DHAKA: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has raised concerns that contract farming could undermine the independent entity of farmers, as it is predominantly controlled by large corporate entities rather than the farmers themselves. She emphasized the need to assess whether farmers are truly benefiting from contract farming, given their lack of direct involvement in the process. Akhter addressed these concerns during a roundtable titled ‘Farm Labour of Bangladesh: Crisis and Solution,’ where she served as the Chief Guest at a city hotel on Tuesday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event featured notable speakers including Professor Dr. Abdul Latif, the Vice Chancellor of Sher-e Bangla Agriculture University, who participated as the special guest. The roundtable was chaired by Professor MM Akash, a member of the Board of Directors of Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB), the organizing body of the event. The roundtable was supported by Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS), a global non-prof
it focused on progressive civic education.
During her speech, Adviser Akhter underscored that the farmers’ existence is not solely tied to wages. She stressed the importance of ensuring that farmers receive fair prices for their produce. Akhter criticized the current practices, stating, “We do not need to import food grains if we procure those from farmers directly at good prices by providing them subsidies. But, we are not doing so.”
Akhter also expressed her concerns about the growing trend of tobacco cultivation across the country, which she described as “alarmingly expanding.” She highlighted that many cultivators are being compelled to grow tobacco instead of food grains, posing significant health risks, particularly for women laborers involved in this sector, who face serious health hazards, including pregnancy-related complications.
The adviser called for immediate measures to boost agriculture’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), noting a planned decline in its share. She l
amented that the Green Revolution in agriculture has turned into a Gray Revolution due to the indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers, leading to an increase in life-threatening diseases like cancer and other non-communicable illnesses.
The roundtable was attended by other distinguished participants, including Professor Anu Mohammad from Jahangir University, Sanzida Sultana, the Additional Executive Director of Karmojibi Nari, Professor Manirul Islam Khan from Dhaka University, RIB Director Suraya Begum, Bangladesh Khetmajur Samiti General Secretary Anwar Hossain Reza, and Bangladesh Krishak Samity Joint Convenor Sheikh Mustafa Nurul Ashin.