As part of an initiative to stop syndicate manipulation in the essential commodity market, the government is going to introduce an existing mobile app to manage locally produced agricultural products. An app named ‘Krishoker App’ – already been in use for other purposes with full success – will be used for this.
Through this app, locally produced foodstuff including paddy, rice and onion can be managed. It will also help supervise supply and demand along with control of prices.
Moreover, farmers will be able to sell their produce to the government easily and consumers will get money through bank accounts, according to relevant sources.
‘Krishoker App’ was created following highlights and guidelines of the Bangladesh National Digital Architecture (BNDA) under the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ campaign of the government. The app was created by the Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT) under the Bangladesh Computer Council.
The software model of 'food product management system' was used to create it.
Food Directorate has been using the app to collect rice from farmers for the last two years. So far, they have used it with 100% success.
Following the success, the same app was used for collecting paddy during Boro season. Other agricultural products will also be procured through it in phases.
Besides, the planting, production, stocking and supply system of various products can be supervised through this app. The app has been created with all such features.
Through the app, 2.29 lakh farmers and 48 auto rice mills have already been registered in 24 upazilas for the sale of paddy and rice under the government food procurement programs.
Moreover, it has been decided, to use the app for buying rice paddy from farmers in 60 upazilas of 60 districts this season.
Initially, the app will be used to collect paddy from farmers. Later it will be used in other sectors as well.
Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) sources said, this initiative will deliver government services at the touch of a finger among all the people of the country. Especially, farmers will benefit the most by this app.
Using this, farmers can apply for the sale of paddy to the government from their homes.
Farmers will also be able to check the status of their applications using the app. Also, they will be able to check if money has been transferred in their bank account after a sale. In each step of the whole process, farmers will receive messages on their mobile phones.
However, farmers need to register to take advantage of the app. For this, a farmer has to apply to the local agriculture officer. Registration will be done only after the application is approved. They will also have to open a bank account with the national identity card of the same person and register in the farmer's app.
The app is connected to the national e-service. As a result, at the time of registration, the national identity card of the concerned farmer will be verified automatically or online by the Election Commission.
In other words, to register, only the farmer's national identity card and a smart mobile phone set are required.
According to the BCC report, the app will have one of the largest database of food products in the country. It will keep data of product quality, weight, stock, volume/quantity in any area and supply-and-demand.
By the touch of a button, one can easily learn the demand, supply and stock situation of a product in an area.
It will also provide certificates for farmer verification, computer-based lottery system.
Additionally, if the product is damaged due to natural calamity or any other reason, that information will also be available.
Earlier, farmers had to go to the upazila office for information on selling paddy to the government. Now, using the app, farmers will get the information sitting at home. As a result, harassment of bureaucratic process will be greatly reduced and will get a fair price for the product produced.
In the future, products produced across the country will be purchased directly from farmers through the app.
According to the source, the demand, import, supply, stock and foreign price situation of the imported products will be monitored through the app.
The Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh Bank, Department of Agricultural Extension and Department of Agricultural Marketing have been involved in providing information on these issues.
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