Lok Sabha Question No. 381 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Procurement and Distribution of Food Grains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Anurag Sharma

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

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.381 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24th JULY, 2024

## PROCUREMENT AND DISTRBUTION  OF FOOD GRAINS

## 381 SHRI ANURAG SHARMA

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION WItnT mM, era 3Br tIT+gf+q hTm #it be pleased to state

- (a) the manner in  which  the Government has improved the procurement and distributIon process of food grains in Uttar Pradesh, with a particular focus on the Bundelkhand region and Jhansi;
- (b) whether there is any plan  to  establish more procurement centres or enhance storage facilities to prevent spoilage and ensure timely distribution;  and
- (c) if  so, the details thereoF

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI  NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA}

- (a): The following  steps have been taken to improve  procurement offoodgrains  at MInImum Support Price (MSP)  in UP including  Bundelkhand  region and Jhansi
- I. Registration of  farmers is done through e-uparjan portal of  Food Department of  the State through OTP on their registered Mobile  number.
- II. Revenue Department of  State verifies the  details of  land area of  the  farmers and corresponding quantity  of produce offered  by them for sale, through online  process
- Ill. Procurement of  foodgrains  is done by biometric  authentication through  Electronrc POInt of Purchase (e-Pop) machine at purchase centres
- IV. Payment to  farmers is done within 48 hours in  their Aadhar linked bank account through PFN4S portal
- V. To facilitate the farmers, Control Rooms are set up at District/Division/State level to resolve their  issues through toll  free number.

2/-

VI. To extend the benefit of Minimum Support Price operation to the farmers of Bundelkhand, 67 purchase centres in  Chitrakut  and 08  purchase centres in  Jhansi Division were opened for  procurement of  paddy during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24 Similarly,  238  purchase centres in Chitrakut  and 200 purchase centres in Jhansi DivisIon  were opened for procurement of wheat during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS)  2024-25.

VII. In an effort for outreach to farmers, Officials of Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Government  visited  villages  to  spread awareness among farmers to  sell  their  wheat through Wheat Procurement Centres (WPCs) at MSP.

VIII Jingles (in  local language) and short videos were used to  encourage farmers

IX. Banners detailing the MSP of Wheat, steps to sell the wheat at different WPCs and other associated details were placed at prominent places of each Panchayat and Block  town

X. Outright  efforts were made to open centres as close to the farmer doorstep as possible to ensure rnaxlrrlurrl convenience

The  following  steps have been taken to  improve distribution of  foodgrains rn  UP including  Bundelkhand  region  and Jhansi :

I. Under Single Stage Delivery  system, foodgrains are dispatched directly  from godowns of PCI to Fair Price Shop (FPS).

II. For movement of  foodgrains, GPS enabled vehicles are used for  tracking  by control room

III. For Transparency, distribution of  foodgrains to  the  beneficiaries  is  done through weighing machine integrated with  e-Pos machine after  biometric authentication of beneficiaries

(b) and (c): Every year, State Govt. decides the numbers of procurement centres after identifying the potential districts on the basis of estimated production, marketable surplus and convenience of farmers. Additional  procurement centres are opened  based on requirement

In  UP, about 5000-5500 purchase centre are opened for procurement of wheat during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS)  and about 4000-5000 purchase centre for  procurement of paddy  during Kharif  Marketing Season (KMS). The State had operated 6220 Wheat Procurement Centres (WPCs) during  RMS 2024-25 in comparison to 5914 WPCs durrng RMS 2023 -24

The  requirement  of  Storage capacity  in  FCI  depends upon  the  level  of  procurement, requirement of buffer  norms and PDS operations for Rice and Wheat mainly.  FCI continuously assesses and monitors the storage capacity and based on the storage gap assessment, storage capacities are created/hired

The capacities are created / hired through the following  schemes

1. Construction  of Silo's under PPP mode
2. Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme
3. 3 . Central Sector Scheme (CSS)
4. Hiring  ofgodown from CWCs/SWCs/State Agencies
5. 5 . Private Warehousing  Scheme (PWS)
6. Creation ofgodowns  under Asset Monetization

A  capacity of  1.80 LN4T has been created under PEG scheme during  current and last three years in Uttar  Pradesh. Further, in  state of Uttar  Pradesh 1.00 LMT silo  at two  locations (Kannauj and Dhamora) under railway  siding model have been constructed and put to in use

The Steps taken to prevent spoilage offoodgrains are at Annexure - I.

89k###

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) & (c) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.381 FOR ANSWER ON 24.07.2024 IN THE LOK SABHA

## Steps taken to prevent spoilage offoodgrains

- Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of  storage practices and stored in scientifically built  godowns. (1)
- Adequate dunnage materials  such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene sheets are used to check migration of moisture from the floor to the foodgrains. (ii)
- Fumigation  covers, nylon  ropes, nets and insecticides  for  control of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns (111)
- Prophylactic (spraying of  insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation)  are carried out regularly and timely  in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests. (iv)
- Effective rat control measures are taken and bird infestation is controlled  by using door nets (V)
- Regular periodic inspections of  the stocks/godowns are undertaken by qualified and trained staff  The health of the foodgrains is monitored  at regular intervals by a system of checks and super checks at different  levels. (Vi)
- The principle of  'First  in  First Out'  (FIFO) is  followed so as to  avoid longer storage  of foodgrains in godowns (VR)
- Only covered rail wagons are used for  movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transIt (Vlll)
- Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of  stocks and reduce damages. In  case any negligence is reported suitable action is taken against officers / officials  found responsible, (ix)
- Identify & repair all the leakage point in the roof is done periodically. (X)
- Cleaning  ofdrainages in  the  godown  premises  ensured. (Xi)
- Ensure no seepage inside the godowns (xn)
- No clogging up of water in the premises (XIII)

88,k##