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Study on Grain Storage Facilities as Food Security Measure in Flood Prone Areas of Bangladesh

M. S. Alam
Ministry of Establishment, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka

M. A. Ashraf
Department of Farm Structure, Bangladesh Agricultural University

M. I. A. Mia
Department of Co-operative and Marketing, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

M. Z. Abedin
Department of Farm Structure, Bangladesh Agricultural University

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present study aimed at obtaining the existing grain storage facilities - their problems and prospects at farmers, commercial, common and cooperative levels on some selected flood prone areas of Bangladesh. The study was conducted at Belkuchi upazila under Sirajgonj district. A total of randomly selected forty farmers and ten traders were surveyed from four villages under four different unions through structured questionnaire. Farmers and traders were classified as small, medium and large on the basis of their total land ownership and annual income status. The farmers used traditional storage structures such as Dole, berh, Motka, Jala, steel drum, gunny and plastic bags and Gola. On the other hand, the traders used gunny and plastic bags and privately owned godown for storing food grains for short time basis. Average production, consumption, sale, farm use, labour wage, storage volume, cost, durability and losses of different storage structures for major grain crops like paddy, wheat and mustard were identified by farmers and traders category. Considering the capital cost, expected life and storage loss steel drum, gunny and plastic bags and Motka/Jala were found more economical for the farmers. The advantages and disadvantages of farmers, commercial, common and co-operative level storage structures were also identified. As the study area was a flood prone one, average 60% farmers were affected and average 8% stored grains were damaged by the flood of 2007. A total of 73% farmers and traders expressed their interest on co-operative storage system at the time of flood to store food grains with paying cost as they have no alternative storage facilities other than the proposed safely constructed co-operative storage structures. On the basis of the opinion of farmers and traders, the suitable location and type of storage structure were also proposed. A layout design and the cost of an operational storage structure for storing 60 metric tonne of paddy and the possible management of the co-operative storage system were also proposed.

Keywords: Storage facilities, Food security, Flood prone area, Co-operative storage system

Location: Sirajgonj district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-10-2007

End Date: 00-11-2007

Program Area: Postharvest and Agro-processing

Commodity: Storage

Objectives:

(a) To identify the existing grain storage facilities in the selected remote and flood prone area of Belkuchi upazila.
(b) To study the problems and prospects of grain storage at farmers, commercial, common and co-operative levels.
(c) To suggest need-based storage systems for the remote and flood prone area of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

In order to achieve the goal of the study, primary data were collected through farm survey with the help of pre-tested questionnaire. Two types of questionnaire were used for collecting the data. One was applicable for the farmers and the other was for the traders who are very much related to grain storage. Data were collected for the period from October to November 2007. Keeping in view the objectives of the present study especially for covering flood prone and remote area four villages namely Aguria, Khidrachapri, Mulkandi and Adachaki of Rajapur, Baradhul, Belkuchi sadar and Bhangabari unions respectively of Belkuchi upazilla under Sirajgonj district were selected as study area. The study areas were also selected on the basis of communication, farmers’ altitude to co-operation and availability of almost all storage structures used for storage of food grains by the farmers. On the basis of landownership, the farmers were classified into three categories like - small farmers having land up to 1.00 hectare; medium farmers having land with 1.01 to 3.00 hectares and large farmers having land exceeding 3.00 hectares. The analysis of data has been done on the basis of land ownership i.e. farm category plays an important role to store crops in different storage structures. The traders related to grain storage are also classified in to three categories on the basis of their income status. These are: (i) small traders having yearly income up to Tk.100,000 (ii) medium traders having yearly income Tk.100,001 to160,000 and (iii) large traders having yearly income exceeding Tk.160,000. For collecting data personal visits were made to the house of sampled farmers and the trade centers. At the beginning of the interview, the aims and objectives of the study were explained to each farmer and trader. Then the questions were asked in a very simple manner with explanation of questions where necessary and the replies were recorded in the questionnaire. In achieving the objectives of the study the collected data were classified, tabulated and analyzed. Lists of tables were prepared in accordance with the aim and objectives of the study. Simple statistical techniques were mainly followed in analyzing the data.

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 18(2) : 223-233, 2007 ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The farmers of the study area used to store their grain crops (paddy, wheat and mustard) in indoor type traditional storage structures like Dole, berh, steel-drum, Motka, Jala, gunny and plastic bags. The tendency of using Dole, Motka, steel drum, berh and gunny bags are higher in small and medium farms which are not so durable and are subjected to storage loss due to various frequently occurred factors like microorganisms, insects, rodents, improper moisture content etc. 2. Traders stored food grains (mainly paddy) in plastic and gunny bags and kept them in the privately owned godown only 4-5 months for earning profit. These godowns are well constructed and protected. The storage cost was high but loss was comparatively low. 3. During flood, the house and storage structures and stored grains of farm people are damaged partially or fully. For these reason, there is no alternative other than cooperative storage structure to be constructed in safe and elevated places above flood level. 4. The government has storage systems i.e. LSDs in upazila level. General farmers and traders have no accessibility to use this system. In order to facilitate farmer’s and trader’s food grain storage, there is no provision for government storage system at the union or village level. 5. Farmers and traders of the study areas have lack of knowledge on storage and they desperately need government help in the form of loans and grants due to insolvent financial condition.

Knowledge Management: Journal