Govt initiates project to cut post-harvest loss of grains

The government has taken a project to identify and reduce post-harvest loss of food grains aiming to ensure food security for all.

The Ministry of Food (MoF) with cooperation of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Bangladesh Institution of Development Studies (BIDS) and University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign will implement the project titled "The Integrated Food Policy Research Programme (IFPRP).

The above information was disclosed at the opening session of a training workshop for officials of the food ministry that started at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Sunday.

Mid-level officials of the ministry are participating in the seven-day training workshop.

The workshop, third of its kind, aims to increase analysing capacity of the trainees to take effective and efficient food policy decisions and to implement those accordingly.

It will also help to increase technical competency and ability of the food ministry officials.

The IFPRP will also research the status of private food stocks in Bangladesh.

Besides, it will help the MoF take decisions on procurement or import of food.

Earlier, the IFPRI-Lead JV arranged two rounds of training for 40 food ministry officials.

A high official of the ministry said the project will undertake diagnostic studies to identify the gaps and propose reforms in the agencies associated with ensuring food security and food safety for all in Bangladesh.

The training is aligned with the government's Vision 2021 to ensure food security.

Additional secretary of the MoF Sarkar Abul Kalam Azad said the food ministry is upgrading food storage infrastructures under its modern food storage facilities with the financial assistance from the World Bank.

The upgradation works include building eight modern silos, linking all public storage facilities and setting up an integrated system.

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