DHAKA : Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid today said the government has undertaken an initiative to establish 2,000 mini cold storages across the country within the next one to two years to enhance farmers' storage capacity and ensure fair prices for their produce.

He disclosed the plan while addressing a meeting titled "Repurposing Agricultural Public Spending for Quality Growth and Jobs in Bangladesh's Agrifood System" at a city hotel.

Speaking as the chief guest, the minister said around 70 to 75 percent of the country's population is directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture.
To strengthen the national economy, agriculture must be strengthened. Keeping this goal in mind, the government is implementing a range of practical measures, he said.

Rashid noted that although farmers produce crops, they often fail to receive fair prices due to inadequate storage facilities.

Particularly in the case of vegetables and other perishable agricultural products, prices decline sharply during peak production seasons because of oversupply, he said.

To address the issue, the government has taken steps to establish mini cold storages at the farmers' doorstep, enabling them to preserve their produce and sell it at better prices.

The minister said each cold storage facility would be operated under a cooperative management system involving 15 to 20 farmers and would run on solar power.

"This model has already proven successful under a pilot project. If 2,000 mini cold storages are established, nearly 40,000 farmers will directly benefit," he added.

Rashid also said the government is adopting a database-based planning system to ensure better coordination between agricultural production and market demand.

Under the initiative, farmers will be able to plan production based on market needs, while consumers will have access to agricultural products at relatively stable prices throughout the year, he said.

The minister further said the government is working to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of onions, onion seeds and ginger.

Expressing optimism, he said Bangladesh would no longer need to import onions within the next one to one-and-a-half years, while self-sufficiency in onion seeds and ginger production could be achieved within the next three years.

Rashid said the government has also taken measures to reduce soil acidity and improve soil fertility across the country.

"If the pH level of the soil is improved, fertilizer use can be significantly reduced while productivity increases," he said.

The minister added that solar-powered irrigation systems are being expanded to reduce dependence on diesel and electricity in agriculture.

"Several thousand irrigation pumps have already been converted to solar-powered systems," he said.

He said various development projects are being implemented in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors with support from development partners, including the World Bank.

The government will positively consider research findings and recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of public expenditure in agriculture and creating employment opportunities, he added.

World Bank Division Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Jean Pesme delivered the opening remarks at the meeting, while Senior Economist Dr Mansur Ahmed and Research Analyst Jonayed Sahal presented the keynote paper.

Among others, World Bank South Asia Regional Director for Sustainable Development Dina Umali-Deininger, policymakers and researchers attended the event.