Food stocks remain in surplus at Chattogram depots

Government food grain stock in Chattogram division have reached 512,763 metric tons, an all-time high and more than actual storage capacity.

Food Department officials said it is the largest reserve in the country's history.

They said the highest stock was piled up through best use of existing storage facilities along with sufficient local procurement and increased imports.

The division’s total storage capacity is 479,087 metric tons in three Central Storage Depots (CSDs), 106 Local Storage Depots (LSDs) and four modern silos. While as of October 14 the total storage reached 512,763 metric tons, which is about 33,675 metric tons higher.

G. M. Faruk Hossain Patwary, Regional Food Controller for Chattogram, said that the government was working hard to ensure food security and is building substantial emergency reserves from domestic and international sources to face any emergency situation in case of any natural disaster and lower harvest.

The highest food stock coincides with the World Food Day being observed today globally at the initiative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Last week, Food Minister Afroza Khanam visited Chattogram to inspect local food management and storage systems. She visited modern silo under construction in Patenga and the CSDs in Dewanhat and Halishahar.

Officials from the Food Department said Chattogram plays a key role in the government's food management strategy, with proper storage of food grains.

Apart from local procurement, about 60 percent of imported rice is offloaded at Chittagong port. So, Chattogram play a crucial role to build up food grain stock and distribution.

Construction of a modern steel silo in Patenga, with a capacity of 114,000 metric tons, is nearing completion. Once operational, it will further increase the region's food grain storage capacity.

Regional Food Controller G. M. Faruk Hossain Patwary said storage and distribution of food grains is an ongoing process, and procurement of paddy and rice is continuing. Through a combination of domestic procurement and imports, stocks are currently in surplus.

Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Mohammad Ali Jinnah said that favorable weather and all positive indicators helped increase production.

S M Nazer Hossain, a leader of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said ensuring food security for the people is the most critical task, and if the current government can maintain this, everyone will be benefited.