Government plans Large cold storage facilities in mango-producing districts

Dhaka, Bangladesh || Friday, 6 November 2026 || 21 Kartik 1433

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Government plans Large cold storage facilities in mango-producing districts

Published : Friday, 6 November, 2026 at 2:18 PM, Count : 41

Government plans Large cold storage facilities in mango-producing districts

The government is considering setting up large-scale cold-storage facilities in mango-producing districts to prevent seasonal price crashes and ensure fair prices for growers, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid said on Thursday.

The government is considering establishing at least one cold-storage facility with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes in each mango-producing district, he said.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a view-exchange meeting with farmers as the chief guest in Chapainawabganj on Thursday afternoon.

He said he had held discussions with two Japanese companies about establishing permanent storage facilities capable of preserving the quality and colour of mangoes for at least three months.

“If this works, I want to establish one cold-storage facility in each mango-producing district, with a capacity of at least 20,000 tonnes,” he said.

The minister noted that mango growers often suffer financial losses during the peak harvesting season as prices fall sharply due to excess supply. In some cases, farmers are forced to sell mangoes for as little as Tk 10 per kilogramme, while some produce remains unsold.

Improved storage facilities would help farmers avoid distress sales during the harvesting season and allow consumers to purchase mangoes even after the season ends, he added.

Regarding exports, the minister said specialised machinery had been installed to ensure mangoes were free from pests before shipment. The equipment would be brought into operation before the next mango season.

The government was also preparing packaging and quality-control facilities to expand mango exports to Japan, China, Pakistan and European countries, he said.

The minister said the government was also exploring opportunities to expand ginger cultivation in unused spaces between mango trees in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Natore.

Farmers could cultivate ginger directly in the soil or in bags, depending on local soil conditions and farming methods. The initiative would create additional income opportunities without requiring separate farmland, he added.

Bangladesh imports around 150,000 tonnes of ginger annually. Expanding domestic production could help reduce the country's dependence on imports, he said.

The minister also stressed the need to expand off-season tomato cultivation to reduce imports and increase farmers' earnings.

Bangladesh imports approximately 100,000 tonnes of tomatoes every year. He said farmers could benefit from cultivating tomatoes during the rainy season, when domestic supplies are limited and market prices tend to be higher.

Agricultural officials had been instructed to identify interested farmers and provide necessary technical assistance, including support with seedlings and cultivation methods.

The minister said the government wanted to reduce dependence on imported agricultural commodities, including onions, garlic, ginger and green chillies, and gradually increase agricultural exports.

On government procurement of paddy, he said he would discuss measures to ensure farmers could sell their produce directly to the government at the designated procurement price.

Acknowledging that the government could not always purchase paddy directly from farmers for various reasons, he said he would make every effort to strengthen the system.

He also urged farmers to properly dry and clean their paddy after harvesting to meet government procurement requirements.

“As agriculture minister, I will make every effort to speak for farmers and help them sell their produce to the government,” he said.

The minister said the government was committed to increasing year-round agricultural production, reducing import dependence and ensuring fair prices for farmers.

Earlier, he visited a bag-based ginger cultivation project at a litchi orchard owned by farmer Mohammad Nazmul Karim Sujon in the Kasba area under Haripur Union of Damkura Police Station in Rajshahi. Around 700 bags of ginger have been planted at the orchard.

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