1. Total expenditure of the project up to June 2003 is  Tk. 89.15 lakh and rest will be spent in next six months by the end of December 2003.  
Project document  was signed by the Government on 30 September 2001 with FAO- TAPP was approved on 22 October 2001 in the SPEC meeting. Duration of the Project is June 2002 to December 2003.

2. The main objectives of the project are as follows:  
The Development Objective of the project is improved food security which will result from: (1) more accurate and faster knowledge of price movements of agricultural commodities being available to policymakers; (2) improved capacity on the part of trader to identify trading opportunities in particular markets in short supply and to respond rapidly to those opportunities and (3) farmers able to make more informed, market-based decisions about what to produce, when to grow it and when to sell it, thus maximising rural returns and minimising post-harvest losses due to overproduction of certain crops.  

The Immediate Objective, which is designed to achieve the Development Objective, is a more efficient Market Information Service operated by the Deptt. Of Agricultural Marketing both in Dhaka and in the Divisions which will both provide timely and accurate information to traders and farmers and reliable data to policymakers. 

3. Project Output/Programme:  

To meet the Immediate Objective the project will produce the following outputs:

A review of the existing MIS, with detailed proposals for changes necessary to meet project objectives;

Staff of the Deptt. of Agricultural Marketing  from field level and Hqrs. trained as necessary, in data collection, handling, processing, analysis and dissemination;  

The Dhaka Headquarters of the Deptt. of Agricultural Marketing MIS section and the selected project areas computerized and staff trained in Windows and its programmes as well as in the FAO Agrimarket software programme;  

Communication between Divisional markets and Project areas facilitated;  

Field level officer & staff of DAM knowledge and skill gaps in marketing extension and in utilization of newly available market information identified and training materials designed and provided.  

Collection, collation and dissemination of international agricultural information for achieving the users needs and the policy makers for aggregate agriculture.  

To establish Website in the Headquarters.  

Information dissemination through Radio and TV.
 
4. Target beneficiaries  
The main target group is the farmers. In addition, Ministries of Agriculture Food and Commerce and other organizations like Bangladesh Bank (BB), Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), police, army, hospitals, jails, research organizations, farmers, consumers, traders, processors, wholesalers, retailers, exporters and importers, international agencies and donors will be the main beneficiaries of the Agricultural Marketing information project. The decision/policy makers of Government of Bangladesh and international entrepreneurs will also be beneficiaries.  

First backstopping mission has been prepared inception report January 2002. The actual work has started from October 2002. However most of the programme has already been done by this time.  

Summary of the programme /activities are completed:  

organized a National workshop on Agricultural Market Information Improvement in Bangladesh on 15 January 2003 proceeding and CD has been prepared on it and distributed.  

ten (10) pilot district i.e. Dhaka, Mymenshingh, Sylhet, Comilla, Chittagong, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi, Rangpur has been selected and already working on computer and Internet.  

Head office has got broadband and LAN connectivity.

Information collection format, collection procedure has been developed and followed by the district officers.  

Primary output in FAO AgriMarket Software is dissemination from the Head Office.

Draft layout design has been formulated and it is going to trial launching within mid July 2003, draft attached.  

DAM is making themselves ready to analyse weekly data/information with probable suggestions of the problems facing by farmers, traders and consumers.

DAM has already organized a meeting with radio and TV and wrote a letter to MOA for requesting specific time of 3-5 minutes in TV and radio from M/O Information. The Secretary MOA sent request letter to the Secretary M/O Information in that matter

5. Local Consultants:  
One (1) Marketing Consultant four months ten days worked on existing system of MIS in the department with appropriate suggestion. 1 Marketing Economist 2 mission 6 weeks each for translations of 2 FAO manuals from English to Bangla and for monitor the whole works. 1 Computerize & Website consultant for 6 months with the TOR on computer training Website Design all other computer, internet, software related work. 1 Market Extension Consultant for 3 months with the work of post harvest technology development for the market extension people in DAM and conduct training on it. The above 3 have already completed their terms, only computer consultant is working and serial no. 4 is coming soon.

7. International Consultant:  
  Marketing Economist (1):  
  3 months 3 weeks with TOR of development of modern technology for MIS in the department and its applications. His term has been completed.

  Market Information Consultant (1):

  2 months 1 week with TOR of preparation of the module of data collection, application in the field. He already finish his term, only 3 week immediate completion of the project he will come back to see the progress of the activities.  

  1 Market Export Intelligence Consultant for 1 month with the TOR of detail study on export market in the country through Internet and physical visit in deferent related department and personal.  

  1 FAO AgriMarket Software Consultant 3 Mission: (1 week, 3 weeks, 2 weeks) with TOR of installation and conduct training on the specific software. His 2 mission has completed only 3rd mission for 2 week he will come to help website establishment.  

DAM is not facing any problems to work with FAO Dhaka & Rome office. Rather achievement of this project is above the expectation. However DAM want to make it feasible to the perfect person, such as farmer and the business commodities.