On Wednesday (July 8), during the question-answer session of the second sitting of the thirteenth National Parliament, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman provided this information in response to a written question from Member of Parliament Md. Shahidul Islam of Faridpur-4 constituency. The session was tabled under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.

The Prime Minister stated that the government has already implemented various initiatives to modernize onion and garlic storage systems and reduce wastage. Under the project 'Onion Storage in Partnership to Mitigate Adverse Climate Change Impacts in Onion Growing Areas of Bangladesh', a total of 3,500 airflow machines have been distributed so far.

Additionally, through the project 'Modernization of Onion and Garlic Storage Methods at Farmer Level and Development of Marketing Activities', 900 model storage facilities have been constructed in various districts including Faridpur. Each storage facility has a capacity of 10 to 12 tons, helping farmers preserve their crops for longer periods.

He said that besides providing technology, farmers are being given necessary training, and initiatives have been taken to create direct market linkages for producers. In the fiscal year 2025-26, under the incentive and rehabilitation program, airflow machines were distributed among 19,000 farmers.

The Prime Minister further informed that a new project titled 'Modernization of Onion and Garlic Storage through Airflow Method and Development of Marketing Activities' is being formulated. Once the project is implemented, another 8,000 airflow machines will be installed in the country's major production areas.

He expressed hope that with increased use of modern storage technology, spoilage and wastage of onions and garlic will significantly decrease. This will enable farmers to sell their produce at fair prices after the season or during off-seasons, and the country's agricultural economy will be further strengthened.