Lok Sabha Question No. 4470 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-08
Subject: Inadequate Storage for Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: VIKRAM USENDI

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4470

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 JANUARY, 2019

## INADEQUATE STORAGE FOR FOODGRAINS

SHRI VIKRAM USENDI:

4470.

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 has taken cognizance of the fact that every year a lot of foodgrains get spoiled due to inadequate storage capacity of foodgrains in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the names of States having excess storage capacity at present;
- (d) whether  the  excess  foodgrain  storage  capacity  has  turned  out  to  be  the reasons for crisis in some States;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the remedial steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a) & (b): No damage of foodgrains can be directly attributed to inadequate storage capacity of foodgrains in the country.

The foodgrains are stored scientifically with various preservation measures like fumigation and treatment with pesticides. In spite of taking necessary care and precautions, small quantities of foodgrains may become non-issuable due to various reasons like natural calamities, damages in transit, negligence of officials etc.

Accrual of damaged foodgrains in FCI during the last 3 years is given below:

| Year                 |   Offtake quantity (excluding DCP States) in Lakh tonnes |   Damage Accrual in FCI(In Lakh tonnes) | % Damaged Food grain against Offtake Quantity   |
|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17              |                                                   473.31 |                                   0.09  | 0.02%                                           |
| 2017-18              |                                                   452.16 |                                   0.027 | 0.006%                                          |
| 2018-19 (01-12-2018) |                                                   296.4  |                                   0.04  | 0.01%                                           |

(c)  to  (f):  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 differ from time to time.  In procuring regions, the capacity utilization is at a maximum when procurement operations are going on but, subsequently, the stock is moved to deficit regions. This leads to liquidation of stock and hence, the capacity temporarily becomes surplus at micro level but on the overall, i.e., at macro level the capacity with FCI is as per requirement.

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