Designing e-Government for the Poor - Tanzania Development ...

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Bangladesh
Title: Agrobangla-network
Proposer: Mr. S. M. Zakir Hossain, Senior Assistant Secretary,
Ministry of Planning
Country: Bangladesh
Date: March 2005
I. INTRODUCTION
Bangladesh is still an overwhelmingly rural society and agricultural
economy. Approximately 80 per cent of the labor force is involved in
agriculture. A key challenge in agri-business activities is the limited capacity
to acquire information about the worldwide market situation leading
to a lack of knowledge on which crops are most profitable to
cultivate. Due to this lack of information, farmers most often cultivate
and produce the same traditional crops. As a result, most crops and
products are seasonal. Due to the lack of demand of that product in a
specific area, the price decreases. The middleman takes advantage of this
opportunity and buys large quantities of the over supplied product at a
low price. He then sells the product at a higher price in an area where
demand is greater and reaps the profit. This process is largely disadvantageous
to the farmer who is unable to receive a fair price for his product.
If the farmer was aware of the worldwide market price for his product,
then the farmer could bargain with the middleman, and maximize his
earning potential.
II. ISSUES
• People have limited access to agricultural resource and market
information
• Crop diversification is necessary to reduce imports of potentially
producible crops
• Farmers do not get a fair price
• Government should connect all growth centres with district
headquarters
III. PROPOSED PROJECT
A. Objective and scope
The electronic interconnection of the growth centres will enable
access to national and international markets. Adequate information and
practices will enhance productivity, lead to crop diversification, and furnish
opportunities for farmers to receive a reasonable price for their products.
The project will be implemented throughout the country in 464 districts.
The activities are as follows: