A network needs to be developed between rural and urban women for ensuring a ready market, the participants observed at the workshop on 'Changing role of women in agribusiness development' in Dhaka yesterday.

The workshop was organised by Agribusiness Development Project (ADP), a joint collaboration of Asian Development Bank and Government of Bangladesh. The ADP will be a five-year investment project involving US$ 50 million.

Speaking at the workshop, Rokia A Rahman, president of Women Entrepreneurs' Association, Bangladesh, said the participation of women in agribusiness needs to be increased for development of the sector.

"Involvement of women in agribusiness will increase the income level of rural women which will ultimately lead to attaining self-sufficiency of women," she noted.

The former advisor to caretaker government also said there is a need for shift from handicrafts to agribusiness both in the rural and urban areas.

Rowshan Mahmud, a women entrepreneur, said technical know-how is a must for entrepreneurs to make their business a success.

She also said that credit facility should be extended to women agribusiness entrepreneurs so that they may invest in a large scale to expand their business.

Selina Akther, another agribusiness entrepreneur, said most of the village women lack awareness of the fact that agribusiness can be profitable. She said middlemen create problems in marketing the agricultural products.

She also said that processing of agricultural products must be taken into account seriously, as agricultural products are perishable.