iFarmer Launches Procurement Hub to Ensure Fair Crop Prices

A recent Bangladesh Bank study reveals that farmers are the primary risk-takers in the agricultural value chain, especially for essential items like rice, potatoes, onions, eggs, and broiler chicken. Conducted across 14 districts, the study attributes price increases mainly to supply shortfalls caused by seasonal factors, reduced cultivation areas, floods, and pest attacks. Unlike intermediaries who secure fixed margins, farmers face fluctuating profits or losses depending on market conditions.

In FY2023–24, Bangladesh produced 68.84 lakh tonnes of maize from 6.42 lakh hectares, with FY2024–25 targets set at 71.60 lakh tonnes from 6.51 lakh hectares. Despite high yields of 35–45 maunds per bigha (1 maund ≈ 37 kg), farmers in districts like Lalmonirhat and Rangpur face falling prices—now Tk 28–29 per kg, down by Tk 2–3 from last year—while production costs rose to Tk 11–13 per kg or Tk 14,000–16,000 per bigha.

Bangladesh's tea exports jumped 57.55% in 2024, reaching 2.45 million kilograms and generating Tk45.96 crore in revenue. This marks a strong recovery from previous years when export volumes had dropped below 1 million kgs.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a Tk 9.0 billion startup fund aimed at accelerating economic growth by providing capital to new enterprises. The fund will be distributed through commercial banks and is part of the government's initiative to foster innovation and investment in the startup sector.

Bangladesh has unveiled a series of bold reforms and financial initiatives aimed at easing business operations and energizing the startup ecosystem. At the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, the central bank announced a Tk900 crore equity fund dedicated to startups, alongside an additional Tk500 crore fund combining equity and lending support.

After interest rates were liberalized in May 2024, agricultural loan rates surged to 15–18%, up from a previous cap of 8%, resulting in a notable decline in disbursements. In the first eight months of the current fiscal year, banks disbursed Tk 22,126 crore in agricultural loans, which is Tk 1,565 crore or 6.60% less than the same period last year.