Design and prototypical implementation of an online auction system: 'Farmer’s Market' an online market for farmer and trader
Abstract
Effective market information systems can help to reduce information asymmetries, increase
competitiveness, and improve efficiency in the marketing system. In Bangladesh, these aspects
of agriculture have been very much neglected. As a consequence, the small farmers do not get
proper price for their products, whereas, he middlemen get the lion's share of benefit. Thus,
lack of dissemination of market information and the bargaining capability of the farmers across
the agricultural supply chain is a major concern in Bangladesh. Since increased mobile
penetration will help in up scaled access of Voice & Data, mobile banking, Agri-service -
through mobile phones are expected to rise etc which provides with the new opportunities and
challenges for agricultural product marketing. The “Farmer’s Market” online auction
marketplaces will allow for the buyers(farmers) and sellers to overcome geographical
constraints and purchase and sell products anytime from anywhere over the internet. Farmer`s
market provides the buyer and seller with great advantages of appropriate prices, greater
product selection opportunity, and greater efficiency compared to the usual traditional offline
markets.