Lok Sabha Question No. 448 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-25
Subject: Status of Foodgrain Storage
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 448 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  JUNE, 2019

## STATUS OF FOODGRAIN STORAGE

## †448.   SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION उपभोक्ता त मल , ाखतद्ा औा तावर्ज�ाका्औता  मं be pleased to state:

- (a) the  storage  status  of  various  foodgrains  including  wheat,  rice, pulses, edible oil, sugar etc. in the country as on date;
- (b) whether  there  is  shortage  of  storage  warehouses  as  per  the storage guidelines;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  to  make  adequate  arrangement  for  storage  in view of shortage of the same in the country?

## MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## A N S W E R (SHRI RAMVILAS PASWAN)

(a) to (d): Against total stocks of 741.41 LMT (as on 01.06.2019), the total  storage  capacity  available  with  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI), Central  Warehousing  Corporation  (CWC)  and  the  State  Agencies  (both owned and hired capacity), is 862.45 LMT (as on 31.05.2019) comprising 739.76 LMT in covered godowns and 122.69 LMT in Cover and Plinth (CAP) storage.  As  such,  there  is  sufficient  capacity  for  storage  of  central  pool foodgrains at the national level. This storage capacity is primarily utilised for  storage  of  wheat  and  rice.    Besides,  in  the  case  of  pulses  procuring States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the existing storage space is also utilized for storage of pulses.

## ORGINAL IN HINDI

In  so  far  as  sugar is  concerned, sugar production in the country is carried  out  by  more  than  500  sugar  mills  which  are  also  responsible  for  its storage. Government of India (GoI) neither procures sugar nor maintains its stocks.  However,  in  view  of  surplus  sugar  production  during  sugar  season and maintenance  of  buffer  stock  of  30  LMT  of  sugar  for  one  year  i.e.  from

2017-18, GoI provides carrying cost to sugar mills for creation 01.07.2018 to 30.06.2019.

In case of edible oils, at present, no procurement is done by GoI and hence, the question of storage of edible oils by GoI does not arise.

Further, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) implements the  Scheme  for  Integrated  Cold  Chain  and  Value  Addition  Infrastructure  as one  of  the  component  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Sampada  Yojana  with  the objective  to  arrest  post-harvest  losses  of  horticulture  &  non-horticulture produce and to provide remunerative price to farmers for their produce.

Further, 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 for storage of Central Pool Stocks in the country:

- i. Private  Entrepreneurs  Guarantee  (PEG)  Scheme:  Under  this  Scheme, which was formulated in  2008,  storage  capacity  is  created  by  private parties, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Government Agencies  for  guaranteed  hiring  by  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI).  A capacity of 142.62 Lakh MT (LMT) has been created as on 31.05.2019. Under this scheme, no funds are allocated by Government for construction  of  godowns  and  full  investment  is  done  by  the  private parties/CWC/State  Agencies.  After  a  godown  is  constructed  and  taken over by FCI, storage charges are paid to the investor for the guaranteed period of 9/10 years irrespective of the quantum of foodgrains stored.
- ii. Central Sector Scheme  (erstwhile  Plan Scheme):  This  scheme  is implemented in the North Eastern States along with a few other States. Funds are released by the Government to FCI and also directly to the State  Governments  for  construction  of  godowns.  A  total  capacity  of 1,84,175 MT has been completed by FCI and State Governments during the 12 th  Five Year Plan (2012-17). This scheme has been extended for 3 years from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020. A capacity of 49,375 MT has been created by FCI & State Governments from 01.04.2017 to 31.05.2019.
- iii. Construction  of Steel Silos:  In  addition  to  conventional  godowns, Government of India has also approved an action plan for construction of steel silos in the country for a capacity of 100 LMT in Public Private Partnership  (PPP)  mode  for  modernizing  storage  infrastructure  and improving shelf life of stored foodgrains . Against this, as on 31.05.2019, steel silos of 6.75 LMT capacity have been created.

***