The government has taken initiatives to ensure adequate food supply and nutrition to a huge population of the country.
The government has a plan (8th Five Year Plan) to raise the capacity of government warehouses to 37 lakh metric tonnes by 2025 keeping the food security in mind.
At present, food is being stored in six silos, 12 CSDs (Central Food Warehouses) and 635 LSDs (Local Storage Depot) under the Food Department of the Ministry of Food. The total capacity of food grains in these warehouses is 21.8 million metric tonnes.
The government has been collecting food grains like paddy, rice and wheat and has stored and then distributed at the required time for ensuring food securities to all.
As part of the government move, this project has been taken to build new food warehouses and ancillary facilities at different strategic places in the country, an official of planning commission said.
The project will be implemented by the Food Department by June 2026, he said, adding that, the total proposed cost of the project is estimated at Tk 814.50 crore.
The project titled “Construction of new food warehouses and ancillary facilities at various strategic locations of the country” has already been taken up by the initiative of the Ministry of Food, he mentioned.
The project has been approved by The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held on 18 July 2023.
Under the project, 196 new food warehouses will be constructed. Besides, CCTV cameras, Danez (wooden frame for storing rice sacks) and installation of 50 moisture stabilizers will be set up in the warehouses. In addition. 10 vehicles will also be procured.
These warehouses will be constructed in 131 upazilas and city corporation areas of 53 districts of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Barisal divisions.
Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the government wants to ensure sustainable food security.
“The food grain storage capacity will increase by 1.38 lakh metric tonnes by constructing new 196 food warehouses under the project. As a result, farmers will be assured of fair price for food grains produced,” he mentioned.
The food department officials said the objectives of the project are to ensure fair price of food grains produced by farmers, increase storage capacity to 37 lakh tonnes by constructing new warehouses, timely delivery of food grains to people through various channels of social security enclosure (OMS, VGD, food-friendly program) and above all, ensuring sustainable food security.
With the construction of new food warehouses, it will be possible to expand the social safety net, make it effective and reliable, they said adding that procurement, storage and distribution management of food grains will be facilitated.
In addition, during floods, cyclones, earthquakes and tidal surges, it will be quicker and easier to provide food aid to the coastal people, they mentioned.
Officials hope that the construction of new warehouses will not only enhance the storage capacity of food grains, but also increase the government’s revenue by renting warehouses if necessary.
