Lok Sabha Question No. 2558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Allocation and Procurement of Food
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SAKSHI SWAMI MAHARAJ, HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2558 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  AUGUST, 2017

## ALLOCATION AND PROCUREMENT OF FOOD

2558. DR. SWAMI SAKSHIJI MAHARAJ:

SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any schemes to increase allocation  and  procurement  of  foodgrains  and  to  strengthen  the  storage  and distribution system and if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the scheme/policy prepared for procurement and safe storage of foodgrains;
- (c) the steps taken to ensure remunerative price to the farmers along with the success achieved therein; and
- (d) the steps taken to ensure food security in the country indicating the names of the States where National Food Security Act is being implemented?

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

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

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): For food security of the people, the Government is implementing the National Food Security Act which provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population at the all India level to receive foodgrain at highly subsidized prices.  Under the Act, allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs is made on the  basis  of  State/UT-wise  coverage  of  population  and  the  foodgrain  entitlements prescribed in the Act.  There is no proposal to change the allocation norms. NFSA is being implemented in all 36 States/UTs.

On  the  basis  of  peak  stock  requirement  during  procurement  season,  the overall storage capacity required in the country is about 600 Lakh MT. Against this, the total capacity available with Food Corporation of India and State Agencies for storage of foodgrains as on 30.06.2017 was 794.48 Lakh MT. Thus on the overall, there  is  sufficient  capacity  for  storage  of  foodgrains  in  the  country.    Beside  this,

Government of India is implementing three schemes to augment and modernize the

storage facilities. (a) Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme under which storage  capacity  is  created  by  private  parties,  Central  Warehousing  Corporation (CWC) and State Agencies for guaranteed hiring by FCI.  A capacity of 138.51 lakh MT has already been completed as on 30.06.2017; (b) Central Sector Scheme with special focus on the North Eastern States.  During 12 th  Five Year Plan, a capacity of 1,17,680 MT in North Eastern (NE) States and 20,000 MT in other than NE States has been created by FCI. Further, a capacity of 46,495 MT has been created by State Governments; and (c) Construction of steel silos under which Government of India has also an action plan for construction of steel silos in the country for a capacity of 100 LMT in 3 phases.

Before the commencement of Rabi and Kharif Marketing Seasons, Department of Food  &  Public  Distribution 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.    Foodgrains procured by F.C.I. and State Govts/Agencies are stored in covered godowns as well as in CAP (cover and plinth).  During storage, the following steps are taken for safe storage and preservations of foodgrains:

- (1) All godowns are constructed as per specifications.
- (2) Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices.
- (3) Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene sheets  are  used  to  check  migration  of  moisture  from  the  floor  to  the foodgrains.
- (4) Fumigation  covers,  nylon  ropes,  nets  and  insecticides  for  control  of  stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns.
- (5) Prophylactic  (spraying  of  insecticides)  and  curative  treatments  (fumigation) are carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests.
- (6) Effective  rat  control  measures,  both  in  covered  godowns  as  well  as  in  CAP storage are used.
- (7) 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.
- (8) 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.
- I. Fortnightly inspection of stocks on 100%  basis by Technical Assistant.
10. II.
11. Monthly inspection by Manager(QC)
- III. Quarterly inspection by AGM(QC)
- IV. Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.

- (9) The  principle  of  'First  in  First  Out'  (FIFO)  is  followed  to  the  extent possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.
- (10) Only covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transit.
- (11) Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages.

## The steps taken to ensure remunerative price to farmers are:

- 1) The minimum support prices (MSP) are announced by the Government of India at  the  beginning  of  the  sowing  season  for  crops  on  the  basis  of  the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) which determines the MSP  based  on  the input costs and margin to farmers.   MSP  (Minimum  Support  Price)  operations  are  given  wide  publicity through  pamphlets,  banners,  sign  boards  radio,  TV  and  advertisements through print & electronic media.
- 2) Procurement  centres  are  opened  by  respective  State  Govt.  Agencies/   FCI taking  into  account  the  production,  marketable  surplus,  convenience  of farmers and availability of other logistics / infrastructure such as storage and transportation etc. Large number of temporary purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of the farmers.
- 3) For  further  strengthening  the  system  that  the  farmers  directly  get  the  MSP announced  by  GOI,  the  GOI  decided  to  do  away  with  the  levy  system  of procurement  of  rice  with  effect  from  KMS  2015-16,  allowing  the  entire procurement of paddy to be done only by the State Agencies/FCI and payment to farmers is done largely through electronic mode or account payee cheque by  State  Agencies/FCI  other  than  in  Punjab  &  Haryana  where  it  is  routed through the Arthiyas as per APMC Act of the State.
- 4) The agricultural produce brought by a farmer is procured by Govt. agencies and  payments  are  made  through  RTGS/electronic  mode/  account  payee cheque within 48 hours of purchase of his produce.

Department of Food & Public Distribution is implementing a Scheme on 'End-toend Computerization of TPDS Operations' with the aim to improve the efficiency of the  current  system  and  to  address  various  challenges  such  as  leakages  and diversion of foodgrains, elimination of fake and bogus ration cards etc. The scheme comprises digitization of ration cards/beneficiary and other databases, online allocation, computerization of supply-chain management, setting up of transparency portal and grievance redressal mechanism.

****