A SUNDAY news report from an English daily highlighted a significant issue: although Bangladesh produces an impressive 9.3 crore tonnes of food annually, large portions of this yield are lost due to inadequate storage, processing, and distribution infrastructure.
This persistent problem poses serious risks not only to food security but also to economic stability and environmental sustainability.
The report noted that due to a lack of proper storage facilities and the use of outdated harvesting tools, Bangladesh loses more than 6–7 lakh tonnes of onions each year, contributing to an estimated 30 percent loss of the national yield.
The wastage isn’t limited to onions; other crops like paddy, wheat, vegetables, and fruits, along with livestock products such as milk and meat, also suffer similar losses.
These inefficiencies across the agricultural value chain result in significant economic losses and exacerbate food insecurity.
Due to these large food losses, Bangladesh is increasingly reliant on food imports to meet domestic demand.
In 2022–23 alone, the country spent $8.25 billion on food imports, including onions from neighboring India.
According to the report, the root cause of this problem lies in the absence of adequate storage, preservation, and processing facilities.
While the government has made some efforts, these attempts have unfortunately remained fragmented and insufficient.
Agricultural experts are calling for a national strategy to address food losses.
A coordinated and comprehensive approach is essential to reducing wastage and ensuring food security.
The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that food waste contributes to 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and occupies 30 percent of agricultural land.
Bangladesh must align its efforts with global initiatives to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 12, which aims to halve per capita food waste by 2030.
This will require public awareness campaigns on food conservation, alongside investments in modern storage and processing technologies.
The problem of food waste is an urgent concern, threatening both the economy and the environment.
Therefore, immediate, large-scale intervention from both public and private sectors is required.
We urge the government and relevant authorities to invest in improved storage and processing infrastructure, promote small-scale agro-entrepreneurship and raise awareness to reduce food loss.
By doing so, Bangladesh can protect its agricultural output, strengthen food security, and move closer to achieving food self-sufficiency.
