The government has made a plan to raise the capacity of government warehouses to 37 lakh metric tonnes keeping the food security in mind.
As part of the government move, a project has been taken to build new food warehouses and ancillary facilities at different strategic places in the country.
The project will be implemented by the Food Department from January 2022 to December 2024. The total proposed cost of the project is Tk 792.85 crore.
Under the project, 196 new food warehouses will be constructed. Besides, 725 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 128 upazilas and city corporation areas of 53 districts of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Barisal divisions.
By constructing these warehouses, the government will reach the target of food storage capacity by 2025.
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 project proposal states that Bangladesh is one of the most populous and risky countries in the world due to climate change.
Although the population is around 180 million, Bangladesh is moving forward on the path of development.
The government is working to ensure adequate food supply and nutrition to this huge population. Food grains like paddy, rice and wheat are being procured and stored and then distributed when necessary.
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.
FM Mizanur Rahman, director (inspection, development and technical services department) of the food department, said that the warehouses would be constructed to increase food storage.
“The project is in the early stages. As a result, food demand can be managed. Food grain storage capacity will increase across the country. If warehouses increase, farmers will be able to sell paddy directly here. The government and the farmers will also benefit,” he mentioned.
Regarding the construction of warehouses, former food secretary Abdul Latif Mandal said that food security must be increased for the country’s huge population.
Food security will not be ensured unless storage capacity is increased, he said adding that “The population is constantly growing, so, our demand is increasing.”
Food warehousing is essential for greater food security, he mentioned.
“Various types of natural disasters, including cyclones, hit coastal areas. At that time stored food is most essential. If food capacity can be increased, it will be possible to deal with such problems,” he added.
