Bangladesh wastes around 3.5 million tonnes of food annually: State minister
State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari said food grains are procured and stored in warehouses and silos under the Ministry of Food to ensure food security for the country's people.
Bangladesh wastes around 3.5 million tonnes of food annually, according to the Food Waste Index Report 2024 of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari told the Parliament yesterday (7 June).
Responding to a question in the Jatiya Sangsad today (8 June), the minister, said the figure cited in the report represents the overall volume of food waste in the country.
The parliamentary sitting began at 3pm with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.
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Cumilla-9 lawmaker Md Abul Kalam wanted to know about the steps taken by the Ministry of Food to create public awareness to prevent food wastage.
In a written reply, Abdul Bari said food grains are procured and stored in warehouses and silos under the Ministry of Food to ensure food security for the country's people.
"The grains are later distributed through various government programmes and sectors, during which a certain amount of food grains may be damaged or lost." Abdul Bari said.
He said the ministry has been gradually reducing food wastage through various initiatives, including the construction of modern silos and food warehouses, improved storage practices through greater stakeholder awareness, enhanced awareness among transport-related stakeholders and other measures.
The minister also said total food grain losses and wastage in fiscal year 2024-25 stood at 18,887.347 tons, accounting for 0.28% of the total volume handled.
'In comparison, total losses and wastage in fiscal year 2023-24 were 21,329.88 tonnes, or 0.316%, indicating a decline in food grain losses in FY2024-25 from the previous fiscal year," he added.
In another written reply, the minister said the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority has been carrying out various activities to ensure food security and food safety and to raise public awareness to prevent food wastage.
He said, "The initiatives focus on increasing production as well as reducing losses and wastage of food products after production.
