Effective supply chain a must for safe food
Effective supply chain and commercialisation of agriculture products is a must for availing a safe food value chain as the marketing of perishable items is a big challenge in the country now, stakeholders said at a webinar yesterday.
The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) organised the virtual programme titled "Ensuring Food Safety and Supply Chain in Pandemic".
Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said there was no problem in production but marketing of perishable goods was a big challenge, especially amid the pandemic.
"If the big companies do not come forward in agricultural processing, it will not be possible to build a fair and sustainable marketing system in this sector," he said while addressing the programme as chief guest.
Stating that ensuring safe food in Bangladesh is another big challenge, he said, "We are committed to giving people nutritious and safe foods as well as prioritising commercialisation and modernisation."
He also underscored the importance of coordination between the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the safe food authority.
He also mentioned that a project worth Tk 156 crore has been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) recently to modernise a "Central Packing House" at Shyampur in Dhaka.
DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said the Covid-19 pandemic has hampered food safety and supply chain activities, resulting in food inflation of 5.45 per cent in June.
"We have to focus on relevant regulations like GAP (good agricultural practices), GMP (good manufacturing practices) standards, safety net, health-hygiene and e-commerce, so that we can create a friendly ecosystem to face the challenges of any pandemic or disaster," he said.
He also urged the government to withdraw a 15 per cent VAT on f-commerce, saying that this VAT would be detrimental for this sector.
Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, secretary to the food ministry, said public-private partnerships (PPP) could be useful for ensuring safe food in the country.
"Motivation of all concerned in the food value chain is important. There are a lot of problems. However, we have to overcome all constraints gradually," she said.
Md Nazrul Anwar, director general of the BSTI, said they have developed a software with a QR code system which would be available for consumers in the next three months to prevent duplication of the BSTI logo.
"The BSTI is working on creating awareness but for that we need concerted efforts. The BSTI is also trying to expand its activities at the district level," he said.
Md Saleh Ahmed, chairman of Kernal Foundation, said a GAP policy was recently framed but now it needed to be implemented through the PPP.
Ambareen Reza, managing director of Foodpanda, said last year about 5,000 restaurants stayed closed due to a lack of an efficient supply chain system.
She also suggested replicating the successful garment supply chain model in the food value chain system.
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