Lok Sabha Question No. 2644 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Wastage of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: KRISHN PRATAP SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2644

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  AUGUST, 2017

## WASTAGE OF FOODGRAINS

2644. DR. KRISHAN PRATAP:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  working  on  any  scheme  to  bring  the wastage of foodgrains during storage at zero level;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, along with the progress made till date in this regard;
- (c)  whether  the  Depot-online  service  has  been  started  to  monitor  the functioning of Food Corporation of India (FCI); and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which all the Depots of FCI are likely to be made online?

## A N S W E R

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

(a) & (b) Government has taken various steps to bring the wastage/damage of Central  Pool  foodgrains  to  bare  minimum.  Details  of  steps  taken  are  at Annexure.  In view of steps taken by the Government, the foodgrains accrued as  damaged/non-issuable  in  FCI  godowns  during  storage,  has  come  down from  0.25  lakh  tons  during    2013-14  to  0.002  lakh  tons  in    2017-18  (upto 01.07.2017) as given below:

| Year                    |   Accrual of Non-Issuable/Damaged Foodgrains with FCI (in Lakh Tons) |   Percentage (%) against Off-take from FCI |
|-------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2013-14                 |                                                                0.25  |                                      0.05  |
| 2014-15                 |                                                                0.19  |                                      0.04  |
| 2015-16                 |                                                                0.03  |                                      0.006 |
| 2016-17                 |                                                                0.09  |                                      0.02  |
| 2017-18 (upto 1.7.2017) |                                                                0.002 |                                      0.002 |

(c) & (d) To bring all operations of FCI godowns online and to check leakages & automate operations at the depot level, 'Depot Online System' (DOS) has been launched. DOS is currently operational at 522 depots out of total 526 functional  FCI  depots.  All  the  remaining  functional  godowns  owned  by  FCI will be included in 'DOS' by August 2017.

****

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  &  (b)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2644 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  AUGUST, 2017 IN LOK SABHA

## STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR SAFE STORAGE OF FOODGRAINS TO AVOID DAMAGE.

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 FCI and all State Govts/Agencies with instructions  to  ensure  that  foodgrains  are  procured  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  uniform specifications.

2. Foodgrains procured by FCI 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.

*****