Modernising food storage facilities

Farmers need adequate patronage from the government so that they feel encouraged to boost food production

Food Minister Quamrul Islam recently said the government was working for modernising food storage facilities with modern technology and stronger institutions to tackle all four aspects of food security like availability, access, utilisation and stability under integrated food policy research programme. According to a report in this newspaper on Wednesday, under the programme, the government will construct silos at the eight divisional cities across the country with the fund of the World Bank.
It is quite encouraging to note that food production in the country has increased significantly over the past few years. The population of the country has almost doubled since the independence of the country but the acreage of arable lands has decreased. Yet these factors could not leave any adverse impact on the country’s food production. Credit goes to the farmers and the modern method of food cultivation. Moreover, a revolution has taken place in vegetable production during the last 13 years. Production of vegetables has increased five times after the liberation of the country.
 Almost every year Boro rice growers face a lot of problems. Since they do not get the required amount of money from the ‘paikers’ (wholesalers) as advance, they have to borrow money from moneylenders at high rates of interest for cultivation of the crop. The cost of production of rice goes up due to high rates of interest. What is disappointing for the growers is price of rice is low in the markets. The farmers are not getting the due price of their produce. Scores of rice mill owners are also bearing the brunt of the situation. The millers cannot dispose of their rice stock. As a result, they cannot pay the wholesalers. It is equally affecting the growers. Besides, many millers are burdened with bank loans. 
The new programme will improve the food value chain, public food stocks, disaster responses, and price stabilisation with state-of-the-art methods and the application of effective digital technologies. Farmers need adequate patronage from the government so that they feel encouraged to boost food production. The boost in vegetable production is covering the nutritional needs of an increasing number of people. Since vegetable is perishable, it has to be preserved properly. If cold storages are set up in different areas, farmers will be able to preserve their vegetables and sell them at good prices. If bank loan is available on easy terms and conditions, many will feel encouraged to set up cold storages. Nationalised commercial banks and other financial organisations can play a vital role in this regard. 
                                

 

Modernising food storage facilities

Farmers need adequate patronage from the government so that they feel encouraged to boost food production

Food Minister Quamrul Islam recently said the government was working for modernising food storage facilities with modern technology and stronger institutions to tackle all four aspects of food security like availability, access, utilisation and stability under integrated food policy research programme. According to a report in this newspaper on Wednesday, under the programme, the government will construct silos at the eight divisional cities across the country with the fund of the World Bank. It is quite encouraging to note that food production in the country has increased significantly over the past few years. The population of the country has almost doubled since the independence of the country but the acreage of arable lands has decreased. Yet these factors could not leave any adverse impact on the countrys food production. Credit goes to the farmers and the modern method of food cultivation. Moreover, a revolution has taken place in vegetable production during the last 13 years. Production ofvegetables has increased five times after the liberation of the country. Almost every year Boro rice growers face a lot of problems. Since they do not get the required amount of money from the paikers (wholesalers) as advance, they have to borrow money from moneylenders at high rates of interest for cultivation of the crop. The cost of production of rice goes up due to high rates of interest. What is disappointing for the growers is price of rice is low in the markets. The farmers are not getting the due price of their produce. Scores of rice mill owners are also bearing the brunt of the situation. The millers cannot dispose of their rice stock. As a result, they cannot pay the wholesalers. It is equally affecting the growers. Besides, many millers are burdened with bank loans. The new programme will improve the food value chain, public food stocks, disaster responses, and price stabilisation with state-of-the-art methods and the application of effective digital technologies. Farmers need adequate patronage from the government so that they feel encouraged to boost food production. The boost in vegetable production is covering the nutritional needs of an increasing number of people. Since vegetable is perishable, it has to be preserved properly. If cold storages are set up in different areas, farmers will be able to preserve their vegetables and sell them at good prices. If bank loan is available on easy terms and conditions, many will feel encouraged to set up cold storages. Nationalised commercial banks and other financial organisations can play a vital role in this regard.