Ahmed Mukhtar Naqshbandi
MALAKAND: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food Department of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) have inaugurated a state-of-the-art model wheat storage facility in Malakand in a bid to enhance the wheat supply chain management in the province.
The storage facility can stock up to 3,000 metric tons of wheat. It was inaugurated by the Additional Secretary of K-P’s food department, Kashif Iqbal Gillani and WFP Pakistan Country Director, Chris Kaye on Thursday.
The Additional Secretary of the food department lauded the joint efforts of the government and WFP, and said, “This facility will act as a model with its improved design and testing facility which we hope to replicate in other regions of K-P given the need for expanded storage facilities in the Province.”
WFP also constructed a training facility, office area and wheat testing laboratory at the government’s request as part of an effort to improve wheat management across the province .
The facility will help the food department in balancing the supply and demand of wheat flour to protect the interests of both the growers and consumers. The training facility will also assist in the capacity building of the food department staff and other partners in areas of wheat storage management.
“WFP committed to strengthen food systems in Pakistan”
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Chris Kaye, Country Director of WFP, said, “WFP is committed to help strengthen food systems in Pakistan. It was painfully obvious during the recent floods that a lot needs to be done to help protect and manage one of the country’s most precious commodities – wheat.”
He added that improved storage capacity was imperative and a systems approach could benefit both farmers and consumers.
The facility was initiated by WFP together with the KPK Food Department in early 2022 and has been set up within the government’s storage compound in Malakand. The facility expands the crop’s storage capacity, allowing for wider coverage of wheat supply in the division. It will also help with the overall management of wheat supply across the province in the event of any shortage, given its strategic location and accessibility.
Post-harvest losses are a key concern in Pakistan, mainly due to inefficient collection and handling and substandard storage. The additional risk factors such as extreme heat and moisture amid climatic extremes also contribute to the challenge. It was reported that inadequate and poorly maintained warehouses and sub-standard storage facilities resulted in a loss of up to 20% of the last year’s wheat crop in the flood affected areas.
