Lok Sabha Question No. 5435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Annual Loss of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Tharaniventhan M S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5435

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 25Tll MARCH, 2026

## ANNUAL LOSS OF FOODGRAINS

## 5435. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN  M S:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): the details of  the  estimated annual loss of  foodgrains  due to storage constraints, improper handling or climatic factors;
- (b): the details of the steps  taken by the Government  to make  storage  infrastructure climateresilient, disaster-resistant and compliant with  scientific norms;
- (c) : whether the Government plans to create buffer storage  near consumption centres especially in Southern  States like Tamil  Nadu to reduce logistical  delays; and
- (d) : if  so, the long-term  plan to ensure safe, modern and sufficient  storage capacity to support  the Public Distribution  System  (PDS), food security programmes  and emergency buffer  requirements?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) : No loss of Central Pool Foodgrains stocks (wheat & rice) can be directly  attributed to storage infrastructure, improper handing or climatic factor. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) procures stores &  handles  huge quantities offoodgrains,  which  are stored in a scientific  manner. Only a very negligible quantity offoodgrains  accrue as non issuable/damage mainly due to natural calamities like cyclone, flood,  rain etc. During the year 2025-26 (as on 01.03.2026) a quantity of 0.022 lakh tonnes foodgrains accrue as damage  in the godowns of  FCI, which  is 0.005% of  total foodgrains quantity handled.
- (b): The  Government  is  taking  various  steps to  make storage infrastructure  climate-resilient, disaster-resistant and compliant  with  scientific  norms:
- (i) Construction of SILO under PPP Mode: Steel Silo storage with bulk handling facility is highly mechanized and modernized way of  storing foodgrains in bulk.  It  ensures better preservation of foodgrains and enhances its shelf  life.  If  food  grains  are stored  in  Silos  and transported  in  bulk,  losses

due to theft, pilferage and transportation would be negligible compared  to foodgrains storage in bags in conventional warehouses. Steel Silos are constructed  under Public Private Partnership Mode.

- (ii) The SMART  Warehouse pilot:  DFPD is implementing smart warehouse  project in  150 FCI's owned and all CWC food grain warehouses. Smart warehouses are equipped with  different loT sensors like smoke, fire,  gate, C02,  phosphine levels, humidity,  rodent control.

Smart warehouse ensures real-time visibility, timely  intervention,  data-driven decision-making & standardized operations across all  depots contributing  to ensure safe, secure, and efficient  food  grain storage and distribution.

- (iii)  Depot Darpan  portal  has also been introduced in the step of Modernization and Digitalization of storage facilities in  FCI. The Portal facilitates self-assessment, rating, and grading of  FCI and CWC depots (owned and hired).
- (c): in  the state of Tamil  Nadu, Silo of  25000 MT  capacity each at Chennai and Coimbatore has been constructed under Circuit  model through Private sector participation  on Build-  own-Operate (DBFOO) basis.
- (d): Government continuously assesses and monitors the storage capacity and based on the storage gap assessment,  storage capacities are created/hired. The requirement of  storage capacity depends upon the level of procurement, buffer norms and PDS operations.

The Government is augmenting its storage capacity through following  schemes:

- a. Private Entrepreneurs Gurantee  (PEG) scheme
- b. Private Warehousing scheme (PWS)
- C. Creation of godown under Asset Monetization
4. d Hiring  of godown from CWC/SWCs/State Agencies
- e. Centre Sector scheme (CSS)
- f. Construction of Silos under PPP mode.

IcqeSc RSc Sc