Lok Sabha Question No. 2328 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-06
Subject: World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Shri Kripanath Mallah, Shri Ganesh Singh, Shri Dilip Saikia, Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara, Shri Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2328 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/08/2024

## World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector

## 2328.  DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:

SHRI GANESH SINGH:

SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of COOPERATION ( सहकारिता मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to overcome the shortage of food grain  storage  facility  across  the  country  by  converging  various  existing  schemes  of  the Government, if so, the names of schemes which are being converged in this regard;
- (b) the level at which the said Schemes are likely to be converged in future;
- (c) the details including the steps taken to implement the 'World's Largest Grain Storage Plan  (Large  Anna  Bhandar  Yojana)'  initiative  in  Cooperative  Sector  as  approved  by  the Government in 2023 including its primary objectives & advantages it aims to deliver, its current status and States/ UTs where said initiative/ project is being implemented;
- (d) the expectations from the above initiative to alleviate the issues surrounding foodgrains storage in the country benefiting both farmers and consumers;
- (e) the  details  of  the  benefits  likely  to  accrue  at  Panchayat/village  level  under  the  said scheme;
- (f) the manner in which the farmers are likely to get remunerative prices for their produce due to the scheme; and
- (g) the manner in which food security is likely to be ensured though the same?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

(a) to (g): Yes, Sir. In order to address the shortage of food grain storage facility across the country, the Government on 31.05.2023, has approved the 'World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector', which has been rolled out as a Pilot Project. The Plan entails creation  of  various  agri  infrastructure  at  Primary  Agriculture  Credit  Society  (PACS)  level, including warehouses, custom hiring center, processing units, Fair Price Shops, etc. through convergence  of  various  existing  schemes  of  the  Government  of  India  (GoI),  such  as,

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM),  Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME), etc. under which PACS can avail interest subvention and subsidies for setting up of agri infrastructure.

Under the Pilot Project of the Plan, construction of godowns has been completed in 11 PACS of 11 States- Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Tripura and Rajasthan, with the support of NCDC, NABARD & NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS).

Lack of adequate decentralized storage facilities leads to post harvest losses and spoilage of food grains. Creation of decentralized godonws at Panchayat level will alleviate these issues by reducing post-harvest losses, thus also ensuring food security of the country. It would also reduce  the  cost  incurred  in  transportation  of  food  grains  to  procurement  centres  and  again transporting  the  stocks  back  from  warehouses  to  Fair  Price  Shop  (FPS)  as  PACS  would themselves be able to operate as procurement centre and FPS. This will financially strengthen not only PACS but their farmer members as well. It also aims to provide various benefits to the farmers and consumers, including the following:

- i. Farmers will be able to store their produce in the godown constructed at PACS and avail bridge finance for the next cycle of crop and sell the produce at a time of their choice, or sell their whole crop to the PACS at Minimum Support Price (MSP), which would enable them to get remunerative prices for their produce
- ii. They will be able to get various agri inputs and services at the Panchayat/ village level itself.
- iii. Through diversification of business, farmers will be able to get additional sources of income.
- iv. Through integration with the food supply management chain, farmers will be able to expand their market size and realize better value for their produce.
- v. In addition to the above, this Plan would help in ensuring food security at Panchayat/ village level across the country, thereby benefitting the consumers.

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