Lok Sabha Question No. 4643 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Improvement in Foodgrain Storage Facilities
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4643 TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH, 2023 29th

## IMPROVEMENT IN FOODGRAIN STORAGE FACILITIES

## 4643. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

- (a) whether the Government is taking steps to improve foodgrain storage facilities;
- (b) if so, the details of initiatives taken in the last three years;
- (c) whether FCI continuously assesses the storage capacity of foodgrains and maintains buffer stock;
- (d) if so, the amount of foodgrain wastage that happened in storage facilities in the past three years;
- (e) whether the Government is taking special measures to check the wastage of foodgrains during storage, if SO, the details thereof; and
- whether the Government proposes to collaborate with the private sector for foodgrain storage, if SO, the details thereof?

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

(a)&(b): Details of covered storage   capacity of Food Corporation of India (FCI) increased during three years and current year are as given below:

(Fig in LMT)

| Schemes               | 2019-20   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2022-23 (upto0102.23)   |
|-----------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------|
| Private Entrepreneurs | 1.47      | 0.55      | 0.48      |                         |
| Guarantee (PEG)       |           |           |           |                         |
| Central Sector Scheme | 0.02      | 0         | 0.20      | 0.08                    |
| Silo                  | 0.50      | 1.00      | 3.0       | 1.50                    |
| Total                 | 1.99      | 1.55      | 3.68      | 3.06                    |

Further, initiatives taken for developing efficient storage system are as under:

Silo-

In order to upgrade and modernize the storage facilities, Government of India approved Action Plan for construction of steel silos on PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode in the countryUnder this plan Silos with capacity of 24.25 LMT at various locations throughout country are under   implementation, out of which a capacity of 12.75 LMT is completed:

Further, under Hub & Spoke model of silos, in phase-I tenders for 10.125 LMT at 14 locations on FCI own land and 24.75 LMT at 66 locations of private land have been awarded:

Phasing out of Covered And Plinth (CAP)-Cover & Plinth (CAP) which was used as transit storage for meager quantity of Wheat, has now been completely phased out which has ruled out the probability of any quality issue-

- (c): FCI continuously assesses and monitors the storage capacity and based on the storage gap assessment, storage capacities are createdlhired:
- (d): FCI mainly deals with Wheat, Rice and Paddy commodities of food grains: It stores and handles large quantities of food grains over longer period for continuous distribution under various welfare schemes of Government: It also maintains buffer & strategic reserve for the country to ensure food security- During this process, very negligible quantity of food   grains accrued as non-issuable (damage) mainly due to natural calamities like cyclone, flood, rain etc.

The details of accrual of damaged foodgrains against the off takelhandled during the Iast 03 years are at Annexure-I. Qty-

- (e): Steps taken by FCI to prevent losses of food   grains are at Annexure
- (f) FCI is collaborating with the private sector for foodgrain storage through the following schemes
1. Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme
2. Construction of Silo's under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode
3. Hiring of godown through Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS):

*****

## ANNEXURE REFERRED To IN REPLY To PART (d) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4643 FOR ANSWER ON 29.03.2023 IN THE LOK SABHA:

## The details of accrual of damaged foodgrains against the off takelhandled during the last 03 years Qty-

| Year   |   Non-issuable Food grains Accrued (in Tonnes) |   Off-take quantity Excluding DCP) (Figures in Lakh Tonnes) |   % of Damaged Foodgrains against Off-take Quantity (Excluding DCP) |
|--------|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 19-20  |                                           1930 |                                                      455.13 |                                                               0.004 |
| 20-21  |                                           1850 |                                                      688.57 |                                                               0.003 |
| 21-22  |                                           1693 |                                                      766.08 |                                                               0.002 |

## ANNEXURE REFERRED To IN REPLY To PART (e) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4643 FOR ANSWER ON 29.03.2023 IN THE LOK SABHA:

Steps taken by FCI to safeguard the quality of foodgrains and to prevent wastage of foodgrains:-

- Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices and stored in scientifically built godowns.
- Fumigation covers, nylon ropes, nets and insecticides for control of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns.
- Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene sheets are used to check migration of moisture from the floor to the foodgrains:
- (iv) Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation) are carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests:
- (v) Effective rat control measures are taken and bird infestation is controlled by using door nets:
- (vi) Regular periodic inspections of the stockslgodowns are undertaken by qualified and trained staff: The health of the foodgrains is monitored at regular intervals a system of checks and super checks at different levels. by
- (vii) longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.
- (ix) Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce In case any negligence is reported suitable action is taken against officers officials found responsible:
- (viii) covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains as to avoid damage during transit: Only
- (x) Identify & repair all the leakage point in the is done periodicallyroof
- (xii) Ensure no seepage inside the godowns:
- (xi) Cleaning of drainages in the godown premises ensured:
- (xiii) No clogging up of water in the premises.