The government has taken an initiative to establish 2,000 mini cold storages across the country within the next one to two years to increase the preservation capacity of and ensure fair prices, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said on Monday.
The minister made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a policy meeting titled “Repurposing Agricultural Public Spending for Quality Growth and Jobs in Bangladesh’s Agri-food System” held at a hotel in the capital.
Highlighting the importance of the sector, the minister noted that approximately 70 to 75 per cent of the country’s population is directly or indirectly involved in agriculture.
He emphasised that the national economy must be bolstered by strengthening agriculture, for which the government is implementing various pragmatic measures.
The minister explained that despite high production levels, farmers often fail to receive fair prices due to a lack of preservation facilities.
This is particularly evident with vegetables and perishable items, where prices plumet during peak seasons due to oversupply. To address this, mini cold storages are being brought to the farmers’ doorsteps.
These storages will be solar-powered and managed through a cooperative system involving 15 to 20 farmers per unit. Following the success of pilot projects, the government expects that the 2,000 mini cold storages will directly benefit around 40,000 farmers.
The minister also revealed that the government is adopting database-driven planning to coordinate agricultural production with market demand. This approach aims to help farmers produce according to requirements while ensuring consumers receive agricultural products at stable prices throughout the year.
The government is working towards achieving self-sufficiency in the production of onions, onion seeds, and ginger. The minister expressed optimism that onion imports would no longer be necessary within the next one to one-and-a-half years, while self-sufficiency in onion seeds and ginger is expected within three years.
In a bid to improve soil fertility and reduce the necessity for fertilisers, the government has initiated programmes to lower soil acidity and improve pH levels, which is expected to boost productivity.
To reduce the consumption of diesel and electricity in the sector, the government is expanding solar-powered irrigation systems. Thousands of irrigation pumps have already been converted to solar power.
The minister added that various development projects in the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors are being implemented with the assistance of development partners, including the World Bank.
He stated that the government would positively consider research and recommendations aimed at increasing the effectiveness of public spending and job creation in agriculture.
The meeting opened with remarks from Jean Pesme, division director for World Bank in Bangladesh and Bhutan. A keynote paper was presented by Mansur Ahmed, senior economist at World Bank, and Junaid Sohel, research analyst.
The event was attended by Dina Umali-Deininger, the World Bank’s regional representative, alongside policymakers, researchers, students, and various stakeholders.
