Lok Sabha Question No. 2300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-29
Subject: Wastage of Foodgrain
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, PARVESH SAHIB SINGH, RAJENDRA AGRAWAL, Shrirang Appa Barne, PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2300

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  November, 2016

## WASTAGE OF FOODGRAIN

2300. SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH: SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

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  as  per  an  official  study  conducted  by  Central  Institute  of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) it has been reported that an estimated 67 million tonnes of food goes waste every year in the country and if so, the details thereof, State-wise and the response of the Government thereto including remedial steps taken in this matter;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to remedy the current situation and ensure timely supply of food to the regions required;
- (c) whether the Government is formulating any policy in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  quantum  of  foodgrains  including  wheat  and  rice  lost  due  to wastage/rotting every year during the last three years and the current year along  with  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  remedial  action  taken  thereon including fixation of responsibility; and
- (e) whether wastage of a certain percentage of foodgrains is permissible in the supply chain and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with specific referrence as to whether the wastages at present is within the permissible limits?

## A N S W E R

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

(a),(b)&(c): The  Central Institute of Post Harvest  Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), an Institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has conducted a study in 2013-14 sponsored by Ministry of  Food  Processing  Industries,  Government  of  India  on  'Assessment  of Quantitative Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops/Commodities in  India'.  The  study  included  assessment  of  harvest  and  post  harvest losses  of  45  crops  and  livestock  produce  like  cereals,  pulses,  oilseeds, fruits,  vegetables,  plantation  crops,  spices,  fish,  eggs,  poultry  meat  and milk.  The  losses  have  been  assessed  in  farm  operations  (harvesting, collection, sorting, grading, drying, packaging and transport) and storage channels (farm, godown/cold storage, wholesaler, retailer and processing unit).

The CIPHET study has estimated that the annual value of harvest and post harvest losses of major agricultural produce and livestock produce at national level was of the order of Rs. 92,651 crore was calculated using production  data  of  2012-13  at  2014  wholesale  prices.    The  crop  wise harvest and Post harvest losses as assessed by the study are as the table below:

| Crop                | Cumulative wastage (%)   |
|---------------------|--------------------------|
| Cereals             | 4.65 - 5.99              |
| Pulses              | 6.36 - 8.41              |
| Oil Seeds           | 3.08 - 9.96              |
| Fruits & Vegetables | 4.58 - 15.88             |
| Milk                | 0.92                     |
| Fisheries (Inland)  | 5.23                     |
| Fisheries Marine    | 10.52                    |
| Meat                | 2.71                     |
| Poultry Meat        | 6.74                     |

CIPHET has been working on R&D activities towards the development of tools, machines and technologies for storage, post harvest processing and value addition of agricultural commodities to minimize the losses.  The  Ministry  of  Food  Processing  Industries  is  providing  financial assistance under the Central Sector Schemes for promotion and development  of  food  processing  sector  in  the  country.  These  are  (i) Scheme for Mega Food Parks, (ii) Scheme for Modern Abattoirs (iii) Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (iv) Scheme for Creation/Expansion  of  Food  Processing  and  Preservation  (v)  Scheme  for Quality Assurance (vi) Scheme for Human Resource and Institutions.

Foodgrain stocks under Central Pool are issued by FCI to States/UTs as  per  the  allocation  and  timely  availability  of  sufficient  stock  in  FCI Depots throughout the country is ensured.

- (d) The quantum of foodgrains including wheat and rice damaged in Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the last three years and current year is as under:

| Year                      |   Quantity Damage (in tons) |
|---------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 2013-14                   |                    24695.5  |
| 2014-15                   |                    18847.2  |
| 2015-16                   |                     3115.68 |
| 2016-17 (Upto 01.11.2016) |                     8432.68 |

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.  In  case  of  negligence  of officers/officials, suitable disciplinary action against defaulters is invariably taken, wherever warranted. Action taken against officer/officials of FCI for damage of foodgrains during last three years and current year is at Annex-I. Steps taken by the Government to avoid damage of foodgrains in storage are at Annex-II.

## (e)   Despite of all precautions some operational losses may occur during storage, handling and transportation of foodgrains, FCI has signed an MOU with the Ministry to restrict storage and transit losses.

The  storage  &  transit  losses  occurred  in  FCI  against  MOU  targets during 2015-16 are as under:

| Name of Loss   | MOU Targets   | Performance   |
|----------------|---------------|---------------|
| Storage Loss   | 0.15%         | -0.06% (Gain) |
| Transit Loss   | 0.42%         | 0.38%         |

****

## ANNEX-I

## ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2300 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016 IN LOK SABHA.

|            | NO. OF OFFICERS/   | PENALTY                            | PENALTY           | PENALTY               | PENALTY   | PENALTY          | PENALTY     |
|------------|--------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------|-----------|------------------|-------------|
| YEAR       | OFFICIALS          | COMPULSORY RETIREMENT FROMSERVICES | REDUCT ION IN PAY | STOPPAGE OF INCREMENT | RECOVERY  | CENSURE/ WARNING | EXONERAT ED |
| 2013-14 50 | 1                  | 11                                 |                   | 8                     | 16        | 12               | 5           |
| 77         | 1                  |                                    | 5                 | 4                     | 40        | 11 4             | 2014-15     |
| 26         | 0                  | 2                                  | 0                 | 9                     | 9         | 2                | 2015-16     |
| TOTAL      | 153                | 2                                  | 18                | 12                    | 65        | 25               | 18          |

## Note:

- Total Amount of Recovery in Year 2013-14 is Rs.5,00,000/- ; in Year 2014-15 is Rs.21,81,108/and in Year 2015-16 is Rs.4,47,223/-.
- In some cases, two penalities including recovery from pay has been imposed on the same person.

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## ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2300 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  NOVEMBER, 2016 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)
14. d)
15. Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.

(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.

- (x) Only covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transit.
- (xi) Damage  Monitoring  Cells  have  been  set  up  at  District,  Regional  and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages.

*****