Central warehouse for farm produce likely by 2017

The government will build a central warehouse with cool-chain system at a cost of US$ 250 million for preserving agricultural produce, officials said.  
The ministry of agriculture (MoA) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will establish the central warehouse and packing centre with cool-chain facilities.
The initiative will also help fulfill the phytosanitary requirements of the importing countries, a high official of the MoA told the FE.
He said the feasibility study of the project has already been completed. A team of the ADB visited the country recently for pre-appraisal of the project. The ADB will finance the project.
The government, businessmen and farmers have long cherished for a central warehouse.
The MoA official said the ministry would deal with agriculture production and quality, while the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) will supervise the preservation system of farm produce.    
The government is now focusing on the production of agricultural cash crops following the country's attainment of self-sufficiency in rice production.    
The cash crop could change the fate of farmers and make them economically self- reliant. If the central warehouse is established then it will ensure fair prices of farmers' products, officials said.
Vegetables exports have declined substantially over the last couple of years, although production has increased considerably.
Vegetables exports slumped by 30 per cent to US$ 103.24 million in fiscal year (FY) 2014-15, from $147.55 million in the previous fiscal, according to the state-run Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
"We hope to set up the central warehouse by 2017," Joint Chief (Planning) of the MoA Md Manzurul Anwar told the FE.
He said that the MoA is working on it and the private sector could play a significant role in the project.
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