Bangladesh reports 3.5 million tons of annual food waste as government storage losses decline
Photo Collected
Bangladesh loses approximately 3.5 million metric tons of food annually, according to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2024 Food Waste Index. State Minister for Food Abdul Bari confirmed these figures during a parliamentary session on Monday while addressing concerns regarding national food security and waste management.
Responding to a written inquiry from Member of Parliament Md. Abul Kalam, the State Minister acknowledged the scale of the waste identified by the UN agency but emphasized that the government has implemented strategic measures to mitigate losses within the state-managed food supply chain. Through the construction of modern silos, the upgrading of food warehouses, and improvements to transportation infrastructure, the government has successfully reduced systemic waste.
Official data presented in the Jatiya Sangsad revealed a measurable decline in food losses within the state sector. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, losses amounted to 18,887.3 metric tons, representing 0.28% of total government food stocks. This marks a downward trend from the 2023-24 fiscal year, when losses were recorded at 21,329.9 metric tons, or 0.316% of total holdings.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, the government is focusing on public awareness campaigns to curtail food waste at the consumer level. The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority is simultaneously conducting ongoing operations to ensure safe food management, reduce post-harvest losses, and incentivize sustainable production practices.
Addressing broader market conditions, the State Minister reported that current rice and flour prices remain stable. Wholesale rice is retailing at an average of 47.34 taka per kilogram, while flour is priced at 42.01 taka per kilogram at the retail level. Additionally, the government confirmed that the recent Boro season yielded a total of 32.7 million metric tons of paddy, reinforcing the current stability of the nation’s food reserves.
0%
0%
0%
0%
