Govt plans to build 30 modern silos for paddy storage

The government has undertaken a project to construct a total of 30 modern paddy silos at a cost of over Tk 1,400 crore.

The project will be implemented at 30 upazilas in 24 districts across the country from July 2021 to December 2023.

The traditional method of preservation of food grains will be replaced with the silo storage system so as to keep their nutritional quality intact and ensure fair price for farmers through direct procurement from the farmers.

Once constructed, the silos with a capacity of 1.50 lakh tons will help keep nutritional quality of food grains intact for two to three years without using any pesticides and by controlling humidity and temperature.

Directorate General of Food Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said: “Phase by phase, we will construct 200 modern paddy silos in the country which will help in an increased preservation of paddy and other food grains altogether.”

“The project has been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council last month. Now we will float a tender for the construction of the paddy silos across the country,” he added.

Since 1991, the food office has bought 15 per cent of its total annual purchase of the staple crop from the growers and the rest 85 percent of the total annual purchase from millers, according to the food ministry data.

The upazilas and municipalities where 30 silos will be constructed under the pilot project include Kotiadi, Mirzapur, Tangail Sadar, Faridpur Sadar, Haluaghat, Melandoho, Sribordi, Brahmanbaria Sadar, Noakhali Sadar, Cumilla Sadar, Dinajpur Sadar, Birol, Thakurgaon Sadar, Boda, Hatibandha, Shibpur, Raninagar, Ishwardi, Nondigram, Sherpur, Khetlal, Kanaighat, Shayestaganj, Sunamganj Sadar, Narail Sadar, Kumarkhali, Charfashion, Patuakhali Sadar and Kalapara.

Former BIDS Research Director M Asaduzzaman told The Business Post that the government must ensure procurement of paddy from farmers directly.

“Till now, the government is yet to procure 27 lakh tons of paddy from the farmers directly which was

promised earlier. If the government meets the procurement properly, this modern storage capacity will be helpful,” he added.

Post-harvest loss is a major cause of concern. A substantial amount of food grains is damaged every year after harvest due to lack of adequate storage and processing facilities.

The key activities under this project include construction of 30 paddy silos, each having the storage capacity of 5,000 tons with paddy sorting, drying, humidity controlling system and other facilities incorporating truck and bulk weighing machines, conveying and bucket elevator in the silos.

Besides, construction of multipurpose buildings, 30 power substations and boundary walls are incorporated into the project work.