Lok Sabha Question No. 4285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Wastage of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN, SULTAN  AHMED, BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL, SUBHASH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4285

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  MARCH, 2017

## WASTAGE OF FOODGRAINS

4285. SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN: DR. BHARATIBEN D. SHYAL: SHRI SUBHASH PATEL:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- whether  the  Government  has  taken  serious  note  of  wastage  of foodgrains due to poor storage, pilferage and theft, rotting and decaying etc. and if so, the details thereof and the effective remedial measures taken by
- (a) the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  increase  the  overall storage capacities of foodgrains in the country keeping in view the need to procure and store more foodgrains in the coming years and if so, the details thereof and the total volume of foodgrains in Government's storage till date and the details of the capacity increased in the last three years;
- (c) the  quantum  of  foodgrains  lost  to  inadequate  storage  and  open storage or the last three years, State-wise;
- (d) whether the Government is formulating any scheme to save foodgrains from rotting in the godowns of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken during the last two years to ensure that the wastage is reduced to the minimum and by when it is likely to be stopped completely?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

( a): Procured  foodgrains  are  stored  by  FCI  in  a  scientific  manner  in covered  godowns and in  Cover  &  Plinth  (CAP)  storage.  Scientific  codes  of practices for safe storage of foodgrains are followed during storage. Inspite of  all  precautions,  some  quantity  of  foodgrains  may  get  damaged/  become non-issuable  during  storage  due  to  various  reasons  such  as  storage  pests' attack, leakages in godowns, procurement of poor quality stocks, exposure to  rains,  floods,  negligence  on  the  part  of  concerned  persons  in  taking precautionary measures etc.

The  quantity  of  foodgrains  accrued  as  damaged/non-issuable  in  Food Corporation  of  India  (FCI)  for  the  last  three  years  and  current  year  is  as under:

| Year                 |   Quantity of Damaged/non-issuable foodgrains (in tons) |
|----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14              |                                                24695.5  |
| 2014-15              |                                                18847.2  |
| 2015-16              |                                                 3115.68 |
| 2016-17 (01.03.2017) |                                                 8679.39 |

Steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  avoid  damage  of  foodgrains  in storage are at Annexure-I.

- (b)    The  peak  stock  requirement  for  Central  Pool  foodgrains  generally happens  on  1 st   June  every  year.  Total  storage  capacity  (both  covered  and CAP)  available  with  FCI  (owned  as  well  as  hired)  and  State  agencies  for storage of Central Pool stocks as on 1st June during the last three years with corresponding stock position in Central Pool is as under:

(Fig. in Lakh Tons)

| As on    | Stock position (capacity required)   | Storage capacity available for Central Pool stocks   | Storage capacity created during last three years (PEG & Plan Scheme)   | Storage capacity created during last three years (PEG & Plan Scheme)   |
|----------|--------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| As on    | Stock position (capacity required)   | Storage capacity available for Central Pool stocks   | Year                                                                   | Capacity created                                                       |
| 01.06.14 | 622.31                               | 758.52                                               | 2014-15                                                                | 8.73                                                                   |
| 01.06.15 | 568.34                               | 726.43                                               | 2015-16                                                                | 7.21                                                                   |
| 01.06.16 | 534.29                               | 811.94                                               | 2016-17 (upto January, 2017)                                           | 2.60                                                                   |

The peak stock position has been less than the total storage capacity.

Following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  in  order  to augment covered storage capacity in the country.

1.          Government of India has formulated Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG)  Scheme  in  the  year  of  2008  &  2009  for  construction  of  storage capacity through Private Entrepreneurs, CWC and SWCs. Under this scheme, storage  capacity  for  foodgrains  is  created  by  private  parties,  CWCs,  SWCs and other State agencies. A guarantee of hiring for 10 year is given in case of private investors and 9 years in case of CWC, SWC and other State agencies. Godowns are  constructed  by  the  private  parties,  CWC  and  SWC  and  other State agencies by arranging their own funds and lands. After construction, FCI  takes  over  the  godowns  on  guaranteed  on  hiring  basis.  A  capacity  of 151.04 lakh tons has been sanctioned/allotted to Private Investors, CWC and SWCs.  A  capacity  of  136.03  lakh  tons  has  already  been  completed  as  on 31.01.2017.  A  capacity  of  49.88  lakh  ton,  8.30  lakh  ton,  6.46  lakh  ton  and 2.56  lakh  ton  is  created  during  2013-14,  2014-15,  2015-16  and  2016-17 (28.02.2017) respectively.

2.    Under  12 th   Five  Year  Plan  period,  Government  has  approved  a  storage capacity of 2,92,730 tons in North Eastern States and 76,220 tons in other States. A capacity of 2500 tons, 43480 tons, 64810 tons and 3980 tons has been created during      2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 & 2016-17 upto 28.02.2017 in  North  Eastern  States.  Besides,  20,000  ton  capacity  has  been  created  in the States of other than North East during 2013-14.
3. Government has approved action plan for construction of steel silos in the country for a capacity of 100 lakh tons through private partnership in phased manner.
3. (c): There  is  no  report  of  damaged  directly  attributed  due  to  lack  of adequate storage and handling facilities. However, details of storage losses of foodgrains in FCI during last three years are at Annexure-II.
4. (d) & (e): Government is taking the following steps to keep the damages/rotting of foodgrains to bare minimum.
1. Stocks are issued on FIFO Principle.
2. As per FCI Headquarters Instructions, no stock is stored by FCI in unscientific (katcha) plinths.
3. Timely  prophylactic  and  curative  treatment  of  stocks  and  regular inspections are carried out by FCI to check the quality of the stocks.
4. Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional & Zonal levels in FCI to regularly monitor damages.

Owing  to  above  steps,  the  quantity  of  damaged/non-issuable  foodgrains accrued  in  FCI  has  been  brought  down  from  24695.455  tons  in  2013-14  to 18847.226 tons in 2014-15 and to 3115.684 tons in 2015-16.

****

## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 4285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2017 IN LOK SABHA

## STEPS  TAKEN  BY  THE  GOVERNMENT  AVOID  THE  DAMAGE  OF  FOODGRAINS  IN STORAGE

Before  the  commencement  of  Rabi  and  Kharif  Marketing  Seasons,  Ministry  of  Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Govt. of India issues uniform specifications for procurement of foodgrains for the Central Pool. These uniform specifications are circulated to F.C.I. and all State Govts./Agencies with instructions to ensure that foodgrains are procured strictly in accordance with the uniform specifications.

2. Foodgrains procured by F.C.I. and State Govts/Agencies are stored in covered godowns as well as in CAP (cover and plinth).
3. During  storage,  the  following  steps  are  taken  for  safe  storage  and  preservations  of foodgrains:
3. (i) All godowns are constructed as per specifications.
4. (ii) Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices.
5. (iii) Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene sheets are used to check migration of moisture from the floor to the foodgrains.
6. (iv) Fumigation covers, nylon ropes, nets and insecticides for control of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns.
7. (v) Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation) are carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests.
8. (vi) Effective rat control measures, both in covered godowns as well as in CAP storage are used.
9. (vii) Foodgrains in 'Cover and Plinth' (CAP) storage are stored on elevated plinths and wooden crates are used as dunnage material. Stacks are properly covered with specifically fabricated low-density black polythene water -proof covers and tied with nylon ropes/nets.
10. (viii) Regular periodic inspections of the stocks/godowns are undertaken by qualified and trained  staff  and  all  senior  officers.  The  health  of  the  foodgrains  is  monitored  at regular intervals by a system of checks and super checks at different levels. Following Checks  and  Super  checks  are  conducted  in  the  godowns  by  FCI  to  ensure  proper preservation of foodgrains in the storage.
- a) Fortnightly inspection of stocks on 100% basis by Technical Assistant.
- b) Monthly inspection by Manager(QC)
- c) Quarterly inspection by AGM(QC)
- d) Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.
15. (ix) The principle of 'First in First Out' (FIFO) is followed to the extent possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.
16. (x) Only covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transit.
17. (xi) Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages.
18. *****

## ANNEXURE-II

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 4285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 TH  MARCH, 2017 IN LOK SABHA STATE-WISE DETAILS OF STORAGE LOSSES OF LAST THREE YEARS

Qty of Loss (in Tons)

| Regions           |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Punjab            |     84408 |     10877 |    -42293 |
| Haryana           |      5532 |    -44619 |    -41605 |
| Uttar Pradesh     |     14883 |     12945 |     13513 |
| Uttrakhand        |       730 |       260 |       415 |
| Rajasthan         |     -9677 |    -13225 |     -7370 |
| Jammu &Kashmir    |       153 |       454 |       195 |
| Delhi             |      1627 |      1203 |       647 |
| Himachal Pradesh  |       -97 |      -100 |       -48 |
| Maharashtra       |     13700 |     12544 |     12653 |
| Gujarat           |       552 |      3288 |      3081 |
| Madhya Pradesh    |     -6372 |    -40732 |    -27764 |
| Chhattisgarh      |      8855 |      5698 |      8568 |
| Andhra Pradesh    |     27121 |      5776 |      7829 |
| Karnataka         |      8088 |      6792 |      3680 |
| Tamil Nadu        |      6885 |      8629 |      4562 |
| Kerala            |      1250 |      1069 |      1042 |
| West Bengal       |      8762 |      3683 |      1801 |
| Orissa            |      6293 |      3680 |      2951 |
| Bihar             |      7220 |      5930 |      5386 |
| Jharkhand         |      2277 |      2222 |      1620 |
| NEF Region        |      1001 |       575 |       626 |
| Assam             |      3501 |      3923 |      2969 |
| N&M Region        |       291 |       285 |       302 |
| Arunachal Pradesh |       156 |       136 |       138 |

- Note:  1. (-) minus indicates gain
2. Year 2013-14 & 2014-15 are audited figures
3.  Year 2015-16 is operational figures

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