Lok Sabha Question No. 1578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-11
Subject: Inadequate Storage Facilities
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

## GOVERNMEilT OF INDIA

## MINTSTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLTG DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMEilT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIOil

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED OUESTION NO. {578 TO BE AI{SWERED ON {{th FEBRUARY, 2O2O

## INADEQUATE STORAGE  FACILITIES

## 1578. SHRI T.R. BAALU:

Will the  tlinister of  GONSUilIER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION  sqstrrdr rrfiil, Er{q sik sr{trfro frilur ri{l te pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the storage facilities of foodgrains in Government agencies arc over flowing;
- (b)  if so, the action taken by the Government to provide adequate  storage facilities;
- (c)  whether the Government is aware of the fact that vegetable prices has risen 6O per cent in the last few months mainly due to inadequate storage facilitiesl  and
- (d)  if so, the measures  taken by the Government  to control the vegetable
- prices?

## A1{SWER

MllltsTER oF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF GOI{SUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION (sHR! DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

(a) and (b): As on 31.12.210{9, against total stocks of 565.{{ LMT, the total storage capacity available with Food Gorporation of lndia (FCl), Gentral Warehousing Gorporation (CWG) and the State Agencies (both owned and hlred capacity) for Gentral Pool Stock including Govered and Plinth (CAP) storage was 758.46 LMT.

The Government  implements the following schemes fior construction of godowns and silos for storage of Gentral Pool Stocks in the country:

- i.  Private Entrepreneurc  Guarantee  (PEG) Scheme:  Under this Scheme,
2. formulated in 2008, storage capacity is created by private parties, CWG and State Government Agencies for guaranteed hiring by FGl. As on 31.12.20{9,  a total capacity  of {43.63 LMT has been created. Under this scheme, no funds are allocated by Government  for construction of godowns and full investment is done by the private partles/GWG/State Agencies.

,...........21'

- l!. Gentral Sector Scheme erstwhile  Plan Scheme): This scheme is implemented in the North Eastern States along wlth a few other States. Funds from annual budgetary allocation  are released by the Government of lndia to FGI and also to the State Governments  for construction of godowns. A total capacaty of 11841175 MT has been completed by FGI and State Governments  during the 12ln Five Year Plan (2012-171. This scheme has been extended from O1.O4.2O17  to 3{.O3.2O22.  A capacity of 51,925 MT has been created by FGI & State Governments from O{.O4.2O17 to 3{.12.2019.
- ill. Gonstruction  gf Steel Silos: In addition to conventional godowns, Government of lndia has also approved an action plan for construction  of stee! silos in the country for a capacity of lOO LMT in Public Private Paftnership (PPP) mode for modernizing  storage infrastructure  and improving shelf Iife of stored foodgrains. As on 31.12.201\  steel silos ol 7.25 LMT capaciQl have been created.

Further, Government  of  lndia has granted ln-principle approval for construction  of 90 LMT of storage facilities under Govered  and Plinth (GAP) hiring Scheme (2O19) of Food Gorporation  of lndia (FGl) for accommodating the wheat stocks for the ensuing Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2O2O-21.

ln addition, godowns are hired under Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS) to address immediate/urgent  requirement of storage space. Godowns  under PWS can be hired after hiring al! the capacity  available with GIYG/$tate Warehouslng Gorporations ($WGs)/State Agencies/PEG capacityr available.

- (c) and (d): Ministry of Food Processing lndustries has been implementing Mega Food Park Scheme (MFPS) for providing modern infrastructure facillties for food processing along with value chain from farm to market. It includes creation of lnfrastructure  for prlmary processing  and storage near the farm gate at Primary Processing Genters (PPGs) and common facilities and enabllng lnfrastructure  at Gentral Processing Gentre.

Government  regularly monitors the prices of onions, potato and tomato, which constitutes  5O7o of total production of all vegetables  in the country and takes following measures from time to time to control the prices of the vegetables:

- (l) Export restriction,  increase in expott duty as also imposition of minimum export price, imposition of stock limlt and action against hoarders.
- (ii) Resorting to and/or facilitating  imports.
- (iii)  Engaging agencies like National Agricultural  Gooperative  Mad<eting Federation of lndia Ltd. (NAFED), Natlonal Gooperatlve Gonsumerc Federation  of  lndia Limited (NCGF), Kendriya Bhandar etc. in procurement  and distribution/supply  to deficiUconsuming states at noprofit no-loss basis.
- (iv)  Maintenance of  buffer stock and lts  dlsposal through $tate
- Governments, Gentral/State  Agencies as also by sale through open auction.