Lok Sabha Question No. 59 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Requirement and Availability of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak

## MTNISTRY OF GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtC  DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UT{STARRED QUESTION NO. 59 TO BE ANSWERED  ON 2"d Februaryrzozl

## REQUIREMENT AND AVAILABILITY  OF FOODGRA!NS

## 59.  SHRI ]TIANOJ  KOTAK:

Yvill the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DtsTRlBUTloil 5cstffr rrrd, ur<-+ ct{  greifrfi  futtq d'+ be pleased to state:

- (a)  the details of the requirement and availability of foodgrains along with the present storage of food grains in the State of Maharashtra;
- (b)  the percentage  of foodgrains  getting damagedr rotten and stolen during storage and transportation and the measures taken by the Government  to prevent the loss of food grains due to these reasons;
- (c) whether foodgrains  are being damaged more due to open storage and shortage of warehouses;  and
- (d)  if sor the steps taken by Government to provide warehouses  in adequate number and safe storage?

ANSWE R

MtlflsrER  oF STATE FOR MI]{ISTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS' FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(sHRt DAI{VE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

- (a)Thedetai!oftherequ.rement'availabilityoffoodgrainsand sufficiency  i.r.o. of Maharashtra as on 31.12.2O2O  is as under :

| Commodity   | Requirement/ month in MT   | availability of foodgrain   |   Sufficiency for months |
|-------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------|
| Wheat       | 242467                     | 107{{06                     |                      4.4 |
| Rice        | 223067                     | 4770a6                      |                      2.1 |
| Total       | 46s934                     | 154a192                     |                      3.3 |

sufficient  stocks have been maintained  in Maharashtra Region for ensuring smooth supply of  foodgrains  to  PDS' Stocks are being replenished regularly  from surplus States like Puniab,  Haryana  and M'P'

2t-

- (b): The percentage of foodgrains getting l{on-issuable (damaged) in FGI during storage and transportation  due to various reasons is tabulated below:

| Year                    | o/o of Damaged foodgrain agai offtake quantity   |
|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2017-1,,                | o.oo6                                            |
| 2014-19                 | o.ot                                             |
| 2019.20                 | o.o04                                            |
| 2O2O-21 (as on 3{-{2-20 | o.o030                                           |

Steps taken by FGI to preserve the quality of procured  foodgrains  to avoid damage is at Annexure-!.

- (c):  No damage of foodgrains in FGI occurred in open storage and due to shortage of godowns during the last three yearc and current year.
- (d): FGI continuously assesses and monitors the storage capacity and based on the requirement  and storage gap assessment, storage capacities are created/hired under following schemes :'

## (i) Private Entrepreneurs  Guarantee (PEG)

Government of  India has fonnulated  a  scheme called Private Entrepreneurc Guarantee  (PEG) Scheme for construction of covered storage capacity.  under this scheme, storage capacity is created by private parties, GWG, SWGs and other State Agencies for guaranteed hiring by FGt. Under this scheme, a capacity  of 5'63 lakh Mf has been constructed as on 31.12.2O20  in Maharashtra'

## (ii) Gonstruction  of SILO's

steelsilostoragewithbutkhandlingfacilityashighlyefficient, mechanized and modemized  way of storing foodgrains in bulk. lt ensures better  preservation of foodgrains  and enhances  its shelf life. lf foodgrains are stored in silos and transported  in bulk, losses due to theft,  pilferage and transportation  would be negtigible  compared  to foodgrains storage in bags in conventional  warehouses.  lllloreover, silos can be operated round the clock which brings in flexibility and improve overall efticiency.  All thesesilosarebeingdevetopedinPPP(PublicPrivatePartnership)mode.

Accordingly,  in  order to  upgrade and modernize the storage facilitaes,  Government of lndia has chalked out an Action Plan for construction  of steel silos in PPP (Public Private Partnership)  mode in the country.  Till date Silos with capacity of 3O.75 LMT at various locations throughout country have been awarded. Out of which a capacity of 8.25 LMT has already been completed  and remaining  is under various stages of development. tn addition a capacity of 5.5 LMT has been created under circuit  base model in 2OO7.

## (iii)  Hiring of godown from CWGs/SWCs/

FCI hires godown from GWGs/SWGs on guaranteed reverberation basis to meet the requirement  of storage space. As on 31.{2.2O, a capacity of {.76 LMT from GWGs and 2.27 LMT capacity from s}YGs has been hired in Maharashtra.

## (iv)  Godowns hiring through PWS

ln additionr  as and when required godowns are being hired through e-tender under Private Warehousing  Scheme  (PWS) to address immediate  / urgent requirement of storage space' As on 3{'12'2O' a capacity of {'aa LIUIT has been hired in Maharashtra  through  PWS'

Under PWS schemer  godowns are hired by FGt from  private parties on Lease onty and Lease wi-th seryices  basis through  open Tender  Enquiry for a minimum  period of two  years extendable  by another one  year (maximum).  Minimum t";;";t;";9{own "I1t o" 25oo MT-(however'  for hilly area it  shall "t ;;-;ni)' The validitv  of the scheme  is upto 31.O3.2023.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO tN REpLy TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTTON No. 59 FOR ANSWER  ON O2.O2.2O2I  IN THE LOK SABHA

Steps taken by FCI to preserve the quality of procured foodgrains  to avold damage are

- (i)
- All godowns are constructed as per specaflcations.
- (i  i) Foodgrains are stored by adoptang proper sclentific code of storage practaces.
- Adequate rdunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene  sheets are used to check migration of molsture from the floor
- to the foodgrains. (iii)
- Fumigation  covers, nylon ropes, nets and insecticides  for contro! of (iv)
- stored grain lnsect pests are provaded in all the godowns.
- Prophylactic  (spraying  of  insecticides)  and curative treatments (fumigation) are carraed out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests, (v)
- Effectave  rat control measures,  both in covered  godowns as well as in CAP storage are used. (vi)
- Foodgralns  in  'Cover  and Plintht (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 polt/thene (vii)
- water -proof coverc and tied with nylon ropes/nets.
- Regutar periodic inspectlons of the stocks/godowns are undertaken by qualified and trained staff and all senior officers. The health of the foodgrains ls monitored at regular intervals by a system of checks and super checks at different  levels. Following  Ghecks  and Super checks  are conducted  in the godowns by FCI to ensure proper preservation of (viii)
- foodgrains  in the storage.
- a) Fortnightly inspection of  stocks on lOOTo basls by Technical
- Assistant.
- b) Monthly inspection by Manager(QG)
- c) Quaterly inspect-on  by AGM(AC)
- d) Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.
- The prlnciple of  "First  in First Outt' (FIFO) is followed to the extent
- possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns. (ix)
- Only covered rail wagons are used for movement  of foodgrains  so as to avold damage  during transat. (x)
- Damage Monitoring Getls have been set up at Districtr Regional and Zona! levets to regularly monator qualaty  of stocks and reduce damages. (xi)
- ldentify  & repair all the leakage point ln the root. (xii)
- Cleanlng  of drainages  in the godown premases ensured. (xiii)
- Ensure no seepage inslde the godowns. (xiv)
- (xv)
- No clogging  up of water in the premises.
- tmmediate action to segregate & recondition  of the stocks whenever  lt gets affected. (xvi)