The government of Bangladesh has announced a plan to construct 1,000 air-conditioned cold storages across the country to preserve perishable agricultural products such as potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes. The initiative aims to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure fair prices for farmers. Discussions are ongoing about whether the facilities will be built under a formal project or through direct budget allocation. The Ministry of Agriculture has already instructed officials to take necessary preparatory steps.

According to ministry sources, the cold storages will be established on an urgent basis without launching a long-term project. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Director General Abdur Rahim confirmed that he has been directed to take immediate action. The government has also begun preparations to procure 4,000 onion preservation machines. Officials noted that the country currently has cold storage capacity for about 4.5 million tons of potatoes, while annual demand is around 9 million tons, leading to significant spoilage.

A previous FAO-supported pilot project built 450 non-refrigerated model storage houses in 16 districts, but these were insufficient. The new cold storage plan is expected to significantly strengthen the agricultural supply chain and improve farmers’ income stability.