, July 30 -- Multiple layers of intermediaries and heavy dependence on urban wholesalers are major factors behind the wide gap between farm gate and retail prices of essential food commodities in Bangladesh, a study by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) revealed on Thursday.

The findings were presented at a seminar titled 'The Food Price Chain: Markets, Margins and Intermediaries in Bangladesh,' held at the BRAC Centre in the capital with CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun in the chair.

Foqoruddin Al Kabir, Senior Research Associate of CPD, presented the keynote paper, which traced the supply chains of 10 essential food commodities: rice, lentil, onion, potato, green chilli, brinjal, egg, beef, fish and chicken, from retail markets...