Problems and prospects of wholesale marketing of fresh produce in Bangladesh: Selected case studies

The paper identifies the problems relating to trade, marketing margins and maintenance of quality and safety standards in fresh agriculture produce in urban wholesale markets. It also examines the prospects of wholesale markets in performing the economic function of buying, selling and value-addition. Two central wholesale markets were studied for the supply of vegetables, fruits and fish. An analysis of both primary and secondary data was carried out. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested questionnaire for wholesalers in the two locations, while focus group discussions and key informant groups were conducted with wholesale traders, laborers, consumers, local political elites and relevant government officials. A desk review provided information on agriculture and food policies, market structure and marketing margins across the food chain. The study confirms that the supply of produce from the northwest Bangladesh to Dhaka usually involves middle men between producers and final consumers and entails three successive stages of delivery from farm to local primary market, from primary market to urban whole sale market, and from wholesale market to the retail market. Alongside, an emerging retailing sector (supermarkets) is gaining popularity among the rich and upper-middle income consumers in big cities. Inadequacies in handling, transportation and storage facilities for fresh produce are noted to be the prime cause of quantity loss and degradation of quality resulting in poor shelf life. Significant informal transactions influence the prices across the market chain. So, promises and potentials of the fresh produce wholesales largely depend on reducing these bottlenecks. Improving the marketing environment would require strategic policies and their implementation through collaborative efforts by government, private sector, traders and NGOs.