Lok Sabha Question No. 5503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Record Production of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Bhavana Gawali (Patil), Krupal Balaji Tumane

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5503 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH APRIL, 2023

## RECORD PRODUCTION OF FOODGRAINS

## +5503. SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI: SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

- (a) whether the State-wise production of foodgrains has reached record level during the last three years, if SO, the year-wise details thereof;

- (b) whether the shelf life of large scale foodgrains stored by Food Corporation of India (FCI) is quite short;

- (c) if the steps taken by the Government to tackle the above problem along with the immediate action being taken by the Government to address the problems of shrinkage of foodgrains and loss of nutrients therein;

- (d) whether the Government has made any assessment of the huge wastage of foodgrains and resultant loss to the Government during the last three years;

- (e) if so, the details thereof;

- whether the Government is taking any measures to preserve the quality of foodgrains by establishing adequate basic structure for the storage of foodgrains; and

- (g) if so, the action plan prepared for the same?

## ANSW E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): The details on the production of foodgrains during the last three years is tabulated as under:-

| Year    |        |
|---------|--------|
| 2019-20 | 297504 |
| 2020-21 | 310742 |
| 2021-22 | 315616 |

- (b) & (c): No Sir. Food Corporation of India (FCI) always stores foodgrains by adopting scientific method of preservation and even during longer storage, quality of foodgrains are maintained: Normal shelf life of foodgrain is 2-3 years in conventional storage and 3-4 years in SILO bulk storage: FCI follows a proper storage and preservation protocol which does not allow any shrinkage of foodgrains and loss of nutrients:
- (d) & (e): FCI handled large quantities of foodgrains for distribution under various welfare schemes of Government of India. Inspite of all precautionary measures only a meagre quantity of foodgrains gets damagedlbecome nonissuable mainly due to Natural Calamities like cyclone, flood, rain etc of which details are as follows:
- (f) & (g): Government continuously assesses and monitors the storage capacity and based on the storage gap assessment, storage capacities are created hired through following schemes:
1. Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) scheme:
2. Central Sector Scheme (CSS)
3. Construction of SILO under the PPP mode.
4. Hiring of godown from CWCsISWCsState Agencies:

| YEAR    |   Non-Issuable Food grains Accrued (In Lakh Tonnes) |   Off-takelHandled Quantity Excluding DCP) (Figures in Lakh Tonnes) |   % of Damaged Foodgrains against Off-take Quantity (Excluding DCP) |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20 |                                               0.019 |                                                              455.13 |                                                               0.004 |
| 2020-21 |                                               0.019 |                                                              688.57 |                                                               0.003 |
| 2021-22 |                                               0.017 |                                                              766.08 |                                                               0.002 |

Further the following steps are also being taken by Government to prevent losses of food grains:

- Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices and stored in scientifically built godowns:
- i) Regular periodic inspections of the stockslgodowns: The principle of SFirst in First Out" (FIFO) is followed so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in the godowns etc:
- Adequate dunnage materials, fumigation covers, nylon ropes, nets and insecticides, Prophylactic and curative treatments, effective rat control measures are being taken:

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