Union-based small cold storages to be set up: Agriculture Minister

The government is going to launch an agricultural card for farmers. Currently, its pilot programme is under way. 

The government has planned to build union-based solar-powered small cold storages to store seasonal agricultural products such as tomatoes, green chillies, carrots, and other crops.

Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid gave this information to reporters before a view-exchange meeting with officials of the Fisheries and Agriculture Department at the Chattogram Circuit House on Saturday. 

Top-level officials of the Fisheries, Animal, and Agriculture Department were present at the meeting organised by the Chattogram Divisional and District Administration. 

Director of the Local Government Department of the Chattogram Divisional Commissioner’s Office, Monwara Begum, and Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah spoke at the meeting.

The Agriculture Minister said that due to the lack of storage of agricultural products, farmers do not get fair prices during the season. Sometimes the prices of tomatoes, carrots, or green chillies decrease so much that it is not profitable to harvest the crops from the fields. But after a few months, the prices of the same products increase several times. To solve this problem, union-based ‘mini cold storages’ will be built. 

“Local cooperatives or farmers’ organisations will manage these. Farmers will be able to store the agricultural products produced during the season and sell them in the market at a convenient time. In this way, the farmers will get a fair price. Even after the season is over, the market price will not increase abnormally,” he added.

The minister said that the government has already waived off agricultural loans up to Tk10,000. The money has been paid to the concerned banks. 

In addition, initiatives have been taken to improve the irrigation system by reducing dependence on groundwater and re-digging canals. Fishermen are being provided assistance during the Jatka conservation season. 

The government is also working on the allegations of unlicensed fishing in the sea.