Staff Reporter :
The entrepreneurs of the cold storage sector have demanded an integrated policy for the development of cold chain infrastructure to ensure a strategic supply of perishable goods such as potatoes, onions, and tomatoes in off seasons.
They came up with the demand while speaking at a press conference at the conference room of the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) in the city on Thursday.
The press briefing was organised for announcing the schedule of a “Cold Chain Bangladesh 2024 exhibition” to be held from May 16 to 18 this year at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) hosted by the Savor International Ltd in collaboration with the BCSA.
Emphasising on the development of the cold storage sector, the BCSA President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu said, “ There is an urgent need to reform the current financial structure to incentivise investments in cold chain management.”
He further highlighted the necessity of accessing loans from foreign sources at lower interest rates to facilitate the development of state-of-the-art cold chains.
According to him, there are 417 cold storages across the country with around 45 lakh tonnes preservation capacity.
“We will be able to preserve many other perishable goods like onion, date, fish, meat and tomato around the year, if the cold storages are prepared for
multipurpose uses,” Babu said.
“Furthermore developing the storages to multipurpose uses, we need government’s policy support including low cost financing for the sector and duty exemption on spare parts imports,” the BCSA president said.
Expressing concerns over potential potato shortages, Babu urged authorities to provide accurate data on potato production to mitigate market disruptions.
He further said that consumers might have to buy potatoes at above Tk 50 a kg in off season this year as farmers’ level price may remain Tk 27-32 a kg which was maximum Tk 18 a kg last year.
Mohammad Asaduzzaman, President of Bangladesh Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Merchant Association (BRAMA) and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Cold Chain Policy Implementation of FBCCI, addressed the challenges faced in importing cold storage equipment and spare parts, urging for a reduction in import duties to stimulate investment in the country’s cold chain infrastructure.
Istiaque Ahmed, Senior Vice-President of the Cold Storage Association, emphasised that cold storage is essential not only for food security but also for ensuring food safety by reducing the need for harmful preservatives.
Md Faizul Alam, Managing Director of Savor International Ltd, while moderating the event told the media that the exhibition would serve as a platform to showcase advancements in cold chain technologies and discuss strategies to enhance the efficiency of cold storage and logistics in Bangladesh.
He emphasised the necessity of an integrated policy for cold chain management involving multiple government ministries, industry stakeholders, and experts to address the evolving needs of the agricultural and perishable goods sector.
During the exhibition, stakeholders will advocate for implementing public-private partnerships (PPPs) in cold chain management, emphasising the importance of specialised cold storage facilities and post-harvest management education for farmers and industry professionals.
