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The World Bank is lending 20 crore 20 lakh USD to Bangladesh for food security. The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved additional funding for the Modern Food Storage Facility Project in Bangladesh. The approval was given to increase the storage capacity of the country's 5 crore 35 thousand 5 hundred tonnes of national strategic grain reserves.
A World Bank press release on Sunday (August 2, 2020) said the project would help address food insecurity in Bangladesh during times of crisis such as frequent natural disasters or the COVID-19 epidemic.
Under the project, assistance will be provided for construction of eight modern government warehouse for paddy and wheat stocks in eight districts.
At present such warehouses are being constructed in Ashuganj, Madhabpur and Mymensingh. Additional funds will be spent on construction of paddy warehouses in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Barisal and wheat warehouses in Chittagong and Maheshwar Pasha.
The additional funds will enhance grain storage management skills through online food stock and market monitoring system (FSMMS) and increase grain storage capacity to meet households' disaster needs, the release said.
In addition, the project will create employment, especially for women, the statement said.
Mohammad Anis, acting country director of the World Bank in Bangladesh and Bhutan, said about 80 percent of Bangladeshis live in rural areas. Their livelihoods, welfare and food security are under threat from climate change.
He said the modern food storage system and effective delivery system would work together to ensure food security after natural disasters or in times of crisis like the current COVID-19 epidemic.
Christian Burger, team leader at the World Bank, said the project currently has a storage capacity of 20 lakh tonnes in government food distribution and grain warehouses. The quality of most of these warehouses is very poor. As a result, the quality and nutritional value of the stored grain is lost. This project will increase grain storage efficiency.
Source: Online/SZK
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