Lok Sabha Question No. 369 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-05
Subject: Sale of Damaged Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 369

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 FEBRUARY, 2019

## SALE OF DAMAGED FOODGRAINS

## 369. 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) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  damage  of foodgrains lying in the open due to rainfall and other reasons and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to sell the damaged foodgrains lying  in  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI)  godowns  in  the  open  market  at reduced prices;
- (c) the  details  of  the  damaged  foodgrains  lying  in  FCI  godowns, Statewise; and
- (d) the efforts being made by the Government to ensure safe storage of foodgrains in FCI godowns?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a): Foodgrains procured for Central Pool and available with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) are generally stored in a scientific manner in covered godowns. However, during peak procurement period, only wheat stocks  are  sometimes  stored  in  Cover  and  Plinth  (CAP)  storage  due  to logistic  constraints.  No  foodgrain  procured  for  Central  Pool  are  kept  in the open by the FCI.
- (b): Damaged foodgrains  available  with  FCI  are  sold  through  Tender Sale/Auction to only 'Registered Parties' registered with FCI for purchase of damaged foodgrains for the purpose of manufacturing feed stocks.
- (c): State-wise  details  of  damaged/non  issuable  foodgrains  lying  in godowns of FCI as on 01.01.2019 is at Annexure-I.
- (d): Steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  safe  storage  of foodgrains is at Annexure-II.

****

ANNEXURE-I.

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 369 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019 IN LOK SABHA.

STATE-WISE DETAILS OF DAMAGED/NON ISSUABLE FOODGRAINS LYING IN FCI COVERED GODOWNS AS ON 01.01.2019.

(Fig. in MT)

| NAME OF THE REGION      |    WHEAT |     RICE |    TOTAL |
|-------------------------|----------|----------|----------|
| BIHAR                   | 1267.69  | 2299.97  | 3567.65  |
| JHARKHAND               |    0     |   31.244 |   31.244 |
| ORISSA                  |    1.57  |    0     |    1.57  |
| WEST BENGAL             |    4.51  |    7.78  |   12.29  |
| ASSAM                   |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH       |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| NEF(MEGH./MIZO/TRIPURA) |    0     |  100.985 |  100.985 |
| MANIPUR                 |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| NAGALAND                |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| DELHI                   |    0.354 |    0     |    0.354 |
| HARYANA                 |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH        |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| JAMMU & KASHMIR         |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| PUNJAB                  |   23.354 |  301.04  |  324.394 |
| RAJASTHAN               |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| UTTAR PRADESH           |    0     |    7.909 |    7.909 |
| UTTRAKHAND              |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| ANDHRA PRADESH          |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| KERALA                  |    0.994 |   32.207 |   33.201 |
| KARNATAKA               |    0     |   45.811 |   45.811 |
| TAMIL NADU              |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| GUJARAT                 |    0     |    0     |    0     |
| MAHARASHTRA             |    0.103 |    0     |    0.103 |
| MADHYA PRADESH          |    0     |    4.97  |    4.97  |
| CHHATTISGARH            |    4.74  |    0     |    4.74  |
| COUNTRY TOTAL           | 1303.31  | 2831.91  | 4135.22  |

***

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 369 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019 IN LOK SABHA.

## STEPS  TAKEN  BY  THE  GOVERNMENT  TO  ENSURE  SAFE  STORAGE  OF FOODGRAINS

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.

Further,  following  steps  are  taken  to  prevent  damage  of  foodgrains  during storage:

- (i) Foodgrains  procured  by  F.C.I.  and  State  Govts/Agencies  are  stored  in covered godowns as well as in CAP (cover and plinth).
- (ii) All godowns are constructed as per specifications.
- (iii) Foodgrains  are  stored  by  adopting  proper  scientific  code  of  storage practices
- (iv) Dunnage  materials  such  as  wooden  crates,  bamboo  mats,  polythene sheets  are  used  to  check  migration  of  moisture  from  the  floor  to  the foodgrains.
- (v) Fumigation  covers,  nylon  ropes,  nets  and  insecticides  for  control  of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns.
- (vi) Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation)  are  carried  out  regularly  and  timely  in  godowns  for  the control of stored grain insect pests.
- (vii) Effective  rat  control  measures,  both  in  covered  godowns  as  well  as  in CAP storage are taken.
- (viii) 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.
- (ix) 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)
- d) Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs. Squads.
5. (x) The principle of 'First in First Out' (FIFO) is followed to the extent possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.
6. (xi) Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages.
7. (xii) Leakage point in the roof of godowns are regularly identified and repaired.
8. (xiii)  Regular cleaning of drainages in the godown premises ensured.
9. (xiv)  Efforts are made to ensure that there are no seepages inside the godowns.
10. (xv) Efforts are also made to ensure that there is no clogging up of water in the premises of the godowns.
11. (xvi)  Immediate  action  are  taken  to  segregate  &  recondition  the  stocks whenever it gets affected.

***