The Ministry of Commerce has taken up a new program called ‘One Village One Product’. What is the matter? In what manner will this project be implemented? Many people are curious about this.
It has been found that several branches of the ministry have started this project to increase the scope of export products. Those concerned will work in the production and promotion of specific or known products in the district and upazila of the country. It emphasizes on raw material based industrialization for production of regional products. The matter can be said to be new from the perspective of Bangladesh.
Earlier, during the inauguration of the trade fair, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced handicrafts as the product of the year 2024. He said, ‘We are dependent on certain products for export. We will not be able to depend on one or two products. We have to diversify our exports, I have been saying this time and again. They will market what the grass root people will produce.
After this announcement by the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Commerce has taken up this new program. The industrial policy formulated in 2016 mentioned the issue of ‘one village one product’ but no previous industrial policy has given importance to this issue. Therefore, the Export Branch and Export Development Bureau (EPB) have already started the action plan.
Basically almost every district of Bangladesh has some or the other product, which is very characteristic. Different types of products are produced in remote villages of different upazilas of the country. Many people do not know the price or name of these products. No one is looking. Because these products are marketed locally, the familiarity of these products does not increase. In this the entrepreneurs do not get the right price. However, these products can become the pride of Bangladesh if they get government sponsorship. It can spread to foreign markets as well. Now these products will be brought up to the national level step by step through the ‘One Village One Product’ program and the Ministry of Commerce has a plan to export them.
Main objective of the project
Let’s say, the ministry will work on how to simplify the process of industrialization of the raw materials in the area where the products or raw materials are produced more and the entrepreneurs there do not have to depend on any other area for the raw materials. In this method the products of one area will be exported to other areas and also abroad. It will also create a lot of employment opportunities.
For example, Binna village of Swarupkathi upazila of Pirojpur is known as a cricket bat making village. The cricket bats here are supplied all over the country. Apart from Binna village, this industry developed in several surrounding areas. Hundreds of men and women of the area used to make a living through this profession. But with the passage of time, their sector is now in poor condition. Bat production has decreased due to various reasons including the outbreak of Corona, lack of necessary raw materials, lack of patronage, falling prices and addiction to mobile phones of children and teenagers. As a result, artisans are forced to leave this profession.
Jamalpur is a potential district of the country. At one time there was some reluctance among women in this district to take up employment outside the home. Now that perception has changed. Because the women of the district have come a long way in handicrafts. Jamalpur Nakshikantha’s reputation is spread across the country and abroad. There is a huge demand for the beautiful Nakshikantha and other handicrafts made by the women of the district. At least five thousand women entrepreneurs of the district are associated with this industry. However, because of not being able to market the products, the entrepreneurs and workers making Nakshikantha are not getting good prices. There is no promotion of the product. So they could not become proud of Nakshikantha.
Mithaipalli is located in Haripur of Bogra Sadar Upazila. Only on the occasion of Payal Baisakh every year, artisans are very busy making sweets such as murali, chirdar moa, gurmakha khai-muri, flowers, nimki, khanja, fish, kadma, mold (elephant-horse), khargrai, batasa etc. Despite the names of sweets, most of the products are made of sugar. Local and distant wholesalers and fair traders are buying the sweets.
Thus faridpur’s date molasses, Narsingdi’s sagarkala, Barisal’s amra, coconut rope, papas, Natore’s kachagolla, Jamalpur’s nakshikantha, Dhakai Jamdani sari, Jessore’s Pataligur are known by the countrymen but not many people see them.
What the entrepreneurs are saying
Sudhanand Halder, a bat craftsman of Binna village of Swarupkathi upazila, said that the demand for cricket bats has decreased due to the mobile addiction of the new generation of teenagers and their interest in sports. Apart from this, buyers have decreased due to various reasons including the increase in the price of raw materials for making bats. I did not get any sponsorship from the government.
People’s representatives of this area say that if the raw material can be supplied at a low price, it is possible to supply cricket bats of international quality to the country and abroad from this village. We demand the government to take appropriate initiatives to sustain this industry.
Shefali Begum, a local Nakshikantha craftsman of Jamalpur, said that we do not get good prices for our products because we cannot market them properly. If we get government support, we hope to get good prices by exporting our nakshikantha to home and abroad.
The owners and artisans of Bogra’s sweet factory said that Bogra’s sweet products are sold in Raman Baishakhi Fair in Dhaka, Azimpur Fair, Sanyal Fakir Fair in Doha, Nurulapur, Rath Fair in Dhamrai, Jabbar Fair in Chittagong’s Laldighir, Lalon Fair in Kushtia, Madhu Mela in Jessore, Pallikbi Jasimuddin Fair in Faridpur, Gor in Satkhira. pond fair , Suryamani Mela of Banaripara, Barisal, Ruhia Mela of Thakurgaon, Charkai Mela of Dinajpur, Ambari Mela and Gopalpur Chowdhury Mela, Gopinathpur Mela of Jaipurhat, Poradah, Gangnagar and Darial Mela of Bogra. They also complain that entrepreneurs are not getting good prices because these products are not known nationally.
A high-level committee will be formed
Sources in the Ministry of Commerce said that the ministry is thinking of forming a high-level committee to implement the ‘One Village One Product’ programme. Other ministries and departments concerned may also be attached to the committee. Besides, the Ministry of Commerce wants to use the field administration.
For this purpose, plans are being made to include local public representatives and dignitaries in the committees formed at the district and upazila level headed by District Administrator and Upazila Executive Officer. If the committees are completed within this month, the project program will be started from next March.
The government officials believe that if these products are properly displayed, it is possible to export them outside the country. It will benefit local industry. Employment will increase in the area. The export basket of the country will be enriched. Foreign income will increase.
Sources from the Ministry of Commerce also said that during the inauguration of the 28th Dhaka International Trade Fair this year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared handicrafts as the product of the year 2024. That is why the Ministry of Commerce will work with this product throughout this year. Women are more involved with the cottage industries of the country. Besides empowering women, handicrafts will play a major role in creating employment. The government is thinking of providing all kinds of facilities from the Ministry of Commerce in these cases.
When asked about this, Commerce State Minister Ahsanul Islam Titu said that since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared handicrafts as the product of the year 2024, the Ministry of Commerce has started working on ‘one village, one product’. Many countries of the world are producing various products by combining jute and plastic. We have to take initiative to produce such products using technology in our country as well. If this can be done, this industry will move forward.
He also said that ‘one village is one product’ and the upazila, district, divisional fair will be held in Dhaka. This product will be supported by SME and BASIC. As a result, foreign exchange will be earned by exporting these products on the one hand, and on the other hand it will be possible to meet the needs of the local market. That’s where we’re going.
#village #product #Ministry #Commerce
