Lok Sabha Question No. 4158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Buffer Stocks of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri G Lakshminarayana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4158

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TII MARCH, 2026

## BUFFER STOCKS OF FOOD(;RAINS

## 1158,  SHRI (;  LAKSHM INA RA\'ANA :

Will  the Minister  ofC'ONSUMI IR  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PU13LIC DTSTRIBLJ'I-ION be pleased to state:

- (a): the total quantity of foodgrdins nlaintained in the Central Pool during the last five  financial years. )'ear and conlmodity-wise:
- (b-): the details of the prescribed buffer norms and strategic reserve  requirements for the corresponding period. quarter and year-u'isc:
- (c): whether actual stock Ie\'els exceeded the prescribed buffer  norms during the said period and if  so, the extent of excess stock nraintained.  year-wise:
- (d): the details of the total expenditure incurred on maintenance of  buffer stocks by Food Corporation of India (FCI)  during the last five financial  years. year-\\-ise along with  a break-up under major heads including storage,  interest. handling. transportation and stock rotation:
- ( e): u'hether the Government has assessed the additiotral carrying cost attributable to nlaintenance ol' stocks above the prescribed buffer norms and if so, the details thereof: and
- (Q : whether the Government proposes to rationalise procurement  and storage levels in order to reduce the fIScal burden and improve efl-iciency in foodgrain nrdnagenlent and if  so. the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a) &  (c): Total stock of  foodgrains, Foodgrain stocking Norms for central pool and Excess stocks during the last five  years are as below:

| As on            | 1Stock of Wheat and Rice   | 1Stock of Wheat and Rice   | 1Stock of Wheat and Rice   | Foodgrain Stocking Norms (Buffer Stocks)   | Excess stock   |
|------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------|
|                  | Wheat                      | I Rice                     | 1Total                     | Foodgrain Stocking Norms (Buffer Stocks)   |                |
| 1 st April, 2021 | 273.04                     | 291.18                     | 564.22                     | 210.40                                     | 353.82         |
| 1st April, 2022  | 189.90                     | 323.22                     | 513.12                     | 210.40                                     | 302.72         |
| 1st April, 2023  | 83.45                      | 248.60                     | 332.05                     | 210.40                                     | 121.65         |
| 1 st April, 2024 | 75.02                      | 301.57                     | 376.59                     | 210.40                                     | 166.19         |
| 1st April, 2025  | 117.94                     | 382.09                     | 500.03                     | 210.40                                     | 289.63         |

- (b): Foodgrain stocking Norms for central pool (Buffer Norms) with effect from 22.01.2015 are as follows;-
- (d) The details of  the buffer cost incurred during the last five  financial years are enclosed as Annexure-A
- (e): The additional carrying cost of  FCI attributable to maintenance of  stocks mainly involves storage and interest. Based on the audited FY  2024-25 buffer carrying  cost calculation, the rate of storage is Rs. 163.04 per Qtl  and rate of interest  is Rs. 220.44 per Qtl.
- (f): The Government policy  of procurement has broad objectives of ensuring MSP to the farmer and availability  of  food  to the weaker section at affordable prices. State Government agencies and Food Corporation of  India (FCI) purchase wheat and paddy conforming to prescribed Fair Average Quality  (FAQ)  specifications and offered by  farmers for  procurement so  that farmers get remunerative price for their produce and do not have to resort to distress sale. However, if producer/ farmer gets better price in  comparison to MSP, they are free to  sell their  produce in open market. Procurement in  a State depends not only  upon production  but also upon other factor  like  marketable surplus, MSP, prevailing market rate, demand and supply situation and participation of private traders etc'

Fig. 1n lakh MT

| As on        | Operational Stock   | Operational Stock   | StrategicReserve   | StrategicReserve   |        |
|--------------|---------------------|---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------|
|              | Rice                | Wheat               | Rice               | Wheat              |        |
| 1 st April   | 115.80              | 44.60               | 20.00              | 30.00              | 210.40 |
| 1 st July    | 115.40              | 245.80              | 20.00              | 30.00              | 411.20 |
| 1 st October | 82.50               | 175.20              | 20.00              | 30.00              | 307.70 |
| 1 st January | 56.10               | 108.00              | 20.00              | 30.00              | 214.10 |

ScScSc  ScScSc

## Carrying  cost of buffer  stocks

## Amount  Rs. Lakh

| Details of cost          | 2020-21     | 2021-22     | 2022-23   | 2023-24      | 2024-25      |
|--------------------------|-------------|-------------|-----------|--------------|--------------|
| Handling                 | 23,866.95   | 35,655.25   | 4,459.76  | 48,825.15    | 82,509.55    |
| Storage Charges          | 81,027.81   | 1,11,278.12 | 16,344.94 | 1,41 ,387.77 | 3, 14,543.69 |
| Interest                 | 1,11,105.23 | 2,04,528.04 | -843.35   | 2,27,503.58  | 4,25,303.06  |
| Freight                  | 83,576.95   | 94,05 1.85  | 45,736.20 | 1,17,625.70  | 1,60,433.14  |
| Administrative Overheads | 10,923.60   | 19,479.38   | 2,740.30  | 35,961.17    | 69,964.85    |
| Transit Shortages        | 3,685.65    | 4,078.66    | 1,859.29  | 3,343.12     | 4,548.77     |
| Storage shortages        | 17,289.92   | 18,531.23   | 3,699.79  | 10,741.26    | 18,741 .06   |
| Total                    | 3,31,476.11 | 4,87,602.53 | 73,996.93 | 5,85,387.75  | 10,76,044.12 |