Lok Sabha Question No. 1818 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-06
Subject: Foodgrains Storage Capacity
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Partha Pratim Ray, RAVINDRA BABU  PANDULA, BANSHILAL MAHTO

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1818 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  MARCH , 2018

## FOODGRAINS STORAGE CAPACITY

1818.   SHRI PARTHA PRATIM RAY:

DR. RAVINDRA BABU:

DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

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

- (a) the  total  foodgrain  storage  capacity  required  and  available  in  the country;
- (b) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that huge stocks of foodgrains are damaged every year due to rains, unavailability of adequate storage capacity and shortage of godowns in the country and if so, the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  to  prevent  the  wastage  of foodgrains;
- (c) the names  of  the  States that  have  more  storage  capacity  of foodgrains than they need at present;
- (d) whether additional storage capacity in some States has resulted in a crisis and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the corrective steps taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  set  up  new  FCI Godowns for storing foodgrains and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a):  On the basis of peak stock requirement during procurement season, the overall storage capacity required for central pool food grains in the country is  about  600  Lakh  Metric  Tonnes  (LMT).  Against  this,  the  total  storage capacity available with Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing was  735.46  LMT  as  on  31.01.2018.  This  comprised  611.31  LMT  covered godowns and 124.15 LMT covered plinth storage. As such, there is sufficient capacity for storage of central pool food grains at the national level.

- (b):      No  damage  of  foodgrains  can  be  attributed  to  lack  of  proper  storage facilities. The foodgrains are also stored scientifically with various preservation measures like fumigation and treatment with pesticides.

In  spite  of  taking  necessary  care  and  precautions,  small  quantities  of foodgrains become non-issuable or rotten due to various reasons like:

- i. Transit damages viz enroute damage in wagon/truck due contamination, wagon roof leakage etc.
2. to
- ii. Due to natural calamities like cyclone/flood/heavy rains.
- iii. Possibility  of  down  gradation  of  grains  which  are  procured  under
5. relaxed specifications.
- iv. In  some  cases  due  to  negligence  of  officials/  officers,  for  which suitable disciplinary action against defaulters, where ever found guilty, are invariably taken.

It is not correct to say that huge stocks of foodgrains get damaged due to rains every year. Only a small quantity of 4 MT got damaged in the stock held by FCI due to rains, during 2017-18 as on 01.02.2018.

- (c):   Total storage capacity available is as per requirement.  The utilization of  storage  capacity  depends  upon  the  level  of  procurement,  movement  of foodgrains etc. and may be differ from time to time. In procuring regions, the capacity utilization is maximum when procurement operations are going on but,  subsequently,  the  stock  is  moved  to  deficit  regions.    This  leads  to liquidation of stock and the utilization of capacity also goes down hence, the capacity  temporarily  becomes  surplus  at  micro  level  but  overall,  i.e.,  at macro level, the capacity with FCI is as per requirement.
- (d):  No such issues have been reported.
- (e):   Does not arise.
- (f):     The Government has been setting up new FCI godowns under Central Sector  Scheme  'Storage  and  Godowns'  with  focus  on  the  North  Eastern States.      Funds  are  released  by  the  Government  to  FCI  as  equity  for construction of godowns. This scheme is being continued for next 3 years i.e. upto  2020,  in  the  North  Eastern  States  along  with  Himachal  Pradesh, Jharkhand and Kerala. The state-wise details are in Annexure. A capacity of 4,590 MT has been completed by FCI upto 31.01.2018 in the current financial year.

In  addition,      depending  on  requirement  in  specific  areas    and  for modernization of the storage facilities, the Government has been implementing the following schemes  for construction of godowns and silos by private parties, which are then taken on guaranteed hiring by FCI:

- i. Private  Entrepreneurs  Guarantee  (PEG)  Scheme:  Under  this  Scheme, which  was  formulated  in  2008,  storage  godowns  are  constructed  by private  parties,  Central  Warehousing  Corporation  (CWC)  and  State Government  Agencies  for  guaranteed  hiring  by  FCI.  A  capacity  of 140.62 lakh MT has already been completed as on 31.01.2018
- ii. Construction  of  steel  silos:  Government  of  India  has  also  approved action plan for construction of steel silos in the country for a capacity of  100  LMT,  for  modernizing  the  storage  infrastructure  and  improving shelf  life  of  stored  food  grains.  As  on  31.01.2018,  tenders  have  been awarded for a capacity of 38.50 LMT and a capacity of 6.25 LMT silos has already been added under the above action plan. However, contract for one project of 0.50 LMT capacity has been cancelled by FCI due to failure  on  the  part  of  concessionaire  to  provide  the  performance security.

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO IN REPLY TO PART (f) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1818 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 06.03.2018 IN THE LOK SABHA.

## Capacity of godowns planned to be constructed by FCI under Central Sector Scheme

The state-wise details of capacity of godowns planned for construction during the next three years is as given below:

(capacity in MT)

| SL   | States                            | 2017- 18   | 2018-19   | 2019-20   | Total    |
|------|-----------------------------------|------------|-----------|-----------|----------|
| 1    | Assam                             | 10000      | 20000     | 12500     | 42500    |
| 2    | Arunachal Pradesh                 | 5010       | 1120      | 0.00      | 6130     |
| 3    | Manipur                           | 20000      | 5000      | 0         | 25000    |
| 4    | Meghalaya                         | 2500       | 5000      | 0.00      | 7500     |
| 5    | Mizoram                           | 0          | 0         | 10000     | 10000    |
| 6    | Nagaland                          | 4590       | 0         | 0         | 4590     |
| 7    | Sikkim                            | 0          | 0         | 3500      | 3500     |
| 8    | Tripura                           | 0          | 10000     | 10000     | 20000    |
|      | Total North East (NE)             | 42100      | 41120     | 36000     | 119220   |
| 9    | Himachal Pradesh                  | 3980       | 5580      | 1660      | 11220    |
| 10   | Kerala                            | 15000      | 0         | 0         | 15000    |
| 11   | Jharkhand                         | 0          | 15000     | 50000     | 65000    |
|      | Total Other than North East (ONE) | 18980      | 20580     | 51660     | 91220    |
|      | Total (NE + ONE )                 | 61,080     | 61,700    | 87,660    | 2,10,440 |

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