Lok Sabha Question No. 3676 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: Stock of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO, AJAY NISHAD, P.P. CHAUDHARY, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3676 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  AUGUST, 2015

## STOCK OF FOODGRAINS

3676.

DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the total production, demand, buffer stock and import of foodgrains, pulses, edible oil and oilseeds during each of the last three years and the current year along with the expenditure incurred on the said imports;
- (b) whether the present stocks are adequate to meet the requirement in the  country,  including  distribution  under  the  Public  Distribution  System (PDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) of various items distributed under PDS and OWS during the current year and estimated requirement for the ensuing year and if not, the corrective steps taken in this regard;
- (c) the  number  of  persons  benefited  under  the  said  schemes  and  the subsidy provided during the said period; and
- (d) whether there have been reports of damage to buffer stocks held in godowns, if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

(a)  &  (b)  The  production  and  import  of  foodgrains,  pulses,  oilseeds  and edible oils during the last three years to  meet  the  demand  and requirement in the country are at Annex I. The buffer stock of foodgrains is maintained for the Central Pool keeping in view the requirements under Targeted  Public  Distribution  System(TPDS)  and  Other  Welfare  Schemes (OWS), the details of which during the last three years are at Annex II.

The  stock  of  foodgrains  in  the  Central  Pool  as  on  1.8.2015  was 520.75 lakh tons as against the foodgrain stocking norms of 411.20 lakh tons for the Central Pool for July-September quarter which is adequate to meet the requirement under TPDS and OWS as per the existing level of allocation.

- (c)  Based on reports received from the States/UTs, the number of ration card beneficiaries (as on 31.12.2014) under TPDS were 19.92 crore. For the  year  2014-15,  Government  released  a  total  subsidy  of  Rs.113171.16 crore.
- (d)      In  spite  of  all  precautionary  measures  taken,  some  quantity  of foodgrains during storage may get damaged! non-issuable due to various reasons such as storage pest attack, leakages in godowns, procurement of poor quality stocks, spillage during movement and handling of stocks, exposure to rains, floods, negligence on the part of concerned persons in taking  precautionary  measures  etc.  In  order  to  prevent  damage  of  the foodgrains, precautionary and remedial steps are mandated  to be followed by  FCI and State Government agencies for proper upkeep and quality  of  foodgrains  in  the  Central  Pool  such  as  godowns  are  to  be constructed as per specifications, foodgrains are required to be stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices, prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation) are to be carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests, effective rat control measures, both in covered godowns as well  as  in  CAP  storage  are  to  be  used,  foodgrains  in  'Cover  and  Plinth' (CAP) storage are to be stored on elevated plinths and wooden crates are to  be  used  as  dunnage  material,  regular  periodic  inspections  of  the stocks!godowns are to be undertaken by qualified and trained staff and all senior officers, etc.

***

ANNEXURE  REFERED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) & (b) OF  THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3676 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 11.8.2015 IN THE LOK SABHA

## STOCK POSITION OF WHEAT AND RICE IN THE CENTRAL POOL VIS A VIS FOODGRAINS STOCKING NORMS

( in lakh  tons)

| AS ON   | WHEAT        | WHEAT                     | R I C E      | R I C E                   | T OT A L     | T OT A L                  |
|---------|--------------|---------------------------|--------------|---------------------------|--------------|---------------------------|
| AS ON   | Actual stock | Foodgrains Stocking norms | Actual stock | Foodgrains Stocking norms | Actual stock | Foodgrains Stocking norms |
| 153.64  | 70           |                           | 288.20       | 142                       | 441.84 212   | 1.4.2011                  |
| 371.49  | 201          | 268.57                    |              | 118                       | 640.06 319   | 1.7.2011                  |
| 314.26  | 140          | 203.59                    |              | 72                        | 517.85 212   | 1.10.2011                 |
| 256.76  | 112          | 297.18                    | 138          | 553.94                    | 250          | 1.1.2012                  |
| 199.52  | 70           | 333.50                    | 142          | 533.02                    | 212          | 1.4.2012                  |
| 498.08  | 201          | 307.08                    | 118          | 805.16                    | 319          |                           |
| 431.53  | 140          | 233.73                    | 72           | 665.26                    | 212          |                           |
| 343.83  | 112          | 322.21                    | 138          | 666.04                    | 250          |                           |
| 242.07  | 70           | 354.68                    | 142          | 596.75                    | 212          |                           |
| 423.97  | 201          | 315.08                    | 118          | 739.05                    | 319          | 1.7.2013                  |
| 361.00  | 140          | 190.33                    | 72           | 551.33                    | 212          | 1.10.2013                 |
| 280.47  | 112          | 146.98                    | 138          | 427.45                    | 250          |                           |
| 178.34  | 70           | 202.78                    | 142          | 381.12                    | 212          | 1.4.2014                  |
| 398.01  | 201          | 212.36                    | 118          | 610.37                    | 319          |                           |
| 322.63  | 140          | 154.22                    | 72           | 476.85                    | 212          | 1.10.2014                 |
| 251.13  | 138.00       | 117.43                    | 76.10        | 368.56                    | 214.10       | 1.1.2015                  |
| 172.21  | 74.60        | 170.94                    | 135.80       | 343.15                    | 210.40       |                           |
| 386.80  | 275.80       | 158.95                    | 135.40       | 545.75                    | 411.20       | 1.7.2015                  |

Note 1:   Revsied norms is w.e.f. 22.1.2015

Note 2:  Foodgrains Stocking norms includes Strategic Reserve of 30 lakh tons of wheat and 20 lakh tons of rice

- ****

ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3676 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 11.08.2015 IN THE LOK SABHA.

|                      | 2011-12                | 2011-12            | 2011-12                     | 2012-13                | 2012-13            | 2012-13                     | 2013-14                | 2013-14            | 2013-14                     | 2014-15                  | 2014-15            | 2014-15                     |
|----------------------|------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------|
| Commodity            | Production (lakh tons) | Import (Lakh tons) | Value of Import (Rs. crore) | Production (lakh tons) | Import (Lakh tons) | Value of Import (Rs. crore) | Production (lakh tons) | Import (Lakh tons) | Value of Import (Rs. crore) | Production (lakh tons)** | Import (Lakh tons) | Value of Import (Rs. crore) |
| Foodgrains (cereals) | 2422                   | 0.164              | 35.59                       | 2387.9                 | 0.492              | 121                         | 2457.9                 | 0.35               | 133.24                      | 2337.4                   | 0.548              | 133.99                      |
| Pulses               | 170.9                  | 34.96              | 9448.35                     | 183.4                  | 40.13              | 13344.63                    | 192.5                  | 31.778             | 11036.75                    | 173.8                    | 45.85              | 17062.94                    |
| Oil seeds            | 297.99                 | 0.42               | 93.56                       | 309.43                 | 0.824              | 406.06                      | 327.49                 | 1.284              | 979.52                      | 273.8                    | 0.87               | 547.31                      |
| Edible Oils *        | 89.57                  | 84.45              | 46255.3                     | 92.19                  | 110.14             | 61106.59                    | 100.8                  | 104.53             | 56572.34                    | 90.02                    | 76.75              | 40732.97                    |

*Import figures of edible oil during 2014-15 is from April to Nov.

** Production figures during 2014-15 as per 3rd advance estimates of Ministry of Agriculture