Abstract:
The method of distribution of imported foodgrains in
• Bangladesh has so long been based entirely upon traditional pratices.
No scientific technique has ever been applied to evolve
the least cost distribution network.
In the present work after having studied & analysed the existing
foodgrains movement programme and the transport infrastructure
a modified transportation model including a transshipment model
has been developed for distributing imported foodgrains by diff-.
erent modes to various districts at an optimal cost. The models
considered the various factors such as constraints due to
11mited capacities and requirements of the sources and destinations
respectively, capacities of the different modes of transportation,
their availabilities in different seasons of the year
etc.
The two models described above were applied to identify the
least-cost route for the distribution of imported foodgrains in
year 1986. From the output of the result, the monthly schedules
of distribution have been prepared.
The modified transportation model has been found to provide
better result than that obtained by the current traditional practices.
The costs of transportation of foodgrains for the year
1986 are Tk. 64,87,62,202 and Tk. 58,17,28,243 by the existing
movement programme and the developed transportation
respectively.
model
xii
When the total supply of foodgrains exceeds the total demand,
the developed transshipment model provides better result than
that obtained by the transportation model. The costs of transportation
for the month of May 1986, are Tk. 13,91,96,690 and
Tk.12,57,37,000 by the transportation model and the transshipment
respectively.
The present work identified some planning and operational
weaknesses in the present system of movement programme. To overcome
these deficiencies, a set of recommendations has been
suggested.
It is expected that if the current movement programme is properly
redesigned incorporating the above models then the leastcost
route for the transportation of imported foodgrains may be
evolved.
