Lok Sabha Question No. 3014 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Modernization of Food Procurement, Storage and Distribution Infrastructure
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Shri Chintamani Maharaj, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Shashank Mani, Shri Shankar Lalwani, Shri Balabhadra Majhi, Shri Praveen Patel, Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3014

TO BE ANSWERED ON lITH  MARCH, 2026

## MODERNIZATION  OF FOOD PROCUREMENT, STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION INFRASTRUCTURE

## 3014. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI  MAADAM:

SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:

SHRI BALABHADFLA MAJHI:

SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:

SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

SHRI SHASHANK MANI:

SHRI CHINTAMANI  MAHARAJ:

SHRI NAB A CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

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

- (a): the details of the  steps taken by  the Government for modernization of food distribution, storage and logistics systems particularly with  reference to the Madhya Pradesh and Indore and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b): whether the  Government has taken any  measures to  strengthen the procurement system and to ensure timely payment of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers particularly in the State of N4adhya Pradesh and Indore and Nabarangpur Lok  Sabha Constituency;
- (c): if  so, the details thereof; and
- (d): the details of the steps to be taken by  the Government to enhance and strengthen storage capacity in  order  to  prevent foodgrains  wastage and to  ensure adequate supply  to  eligible households in  the  country particularly  in  Madhya Pradesh and Indore and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a): Department of Food and Public Distribution  has taken following  initiatives  to modernize Public Distribution  System  Operations : -

SMART-PDS: The Department of Food and Public Distribution is  implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) 'Scheme for  Modernization  and Reforms through Technology in  Public Distribution System (SMART-PDS)' for development of an advanced, integrated and modular digital platform to  strengthen end-to-end management of the Public Distribution System (PDS), including ration card management, supply chain operations, allocation, procurement and biometric distribution.

The SMART-PDS application is being developed  by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The development of  the platform  commenced in October 2024, and the modules are being rolled out in phases from  April  2025 onwards across States/UTs.

Smart Warehouse Project: The Government is converting its  150 FCI  owned Depots to  smart warehouses on  pilot basis.  CWC  has installed  smart  warehouse  at  all  its  foodgrain  warehouses. Under this project, traditional  depots are being converted in  smart warehouses which  are equipped with  different IoT  sensors like  smoke sensors, fire  sensors &  gate opening sensor etc. for monitoring  key  parameters such as C02,  phosphine levels,  fire  hazards, humidity,  unauthorized entry and temperature on real time basis.

This  initiative is  to  ensure real-time  visibility, timely  intervention,  data-driven  decisionmaking  &  standardized operations across all  depots contributing  to  ensure safe, secure, and efficient food grain storage  and distribution.

Depot Darpan Portal: Depot Darpan Portal is a  digital platform launched by DFPD to enhance the monitoring,  transparency and efficiency  of  food-grain  storage depots &  warehouses under PDS

## Key features  and purpose  of Depot Darpan:

- a. Depot/warehouse  managers upload geo-tagged data regarding infrastructure, operations, and financial performance of the depot.
- b. Portal uses  a  composite scoring system,  assessing  depots  on  two broad categories: infrastructure (safety,  storage  conditions,  technology use, compliance)  and operational parameters (stock turnover, losses, space utilisation,  manpower costs etc.).
- c. Based on the scores, each depot receives a star rating, which  is meant to  provide  a quick assessment of depot performance.
- d. Validation of  data is built  into the process via  100% supervisory officer verification and some random third-party  audits to ensure reliability.

Silos-Scientific  Storage of  Foodgrains: Silo storage represents a highly mechanized and modern method of  bulk  foodgrains storage, ensuring superior preservation and enhanced shelf life.  It requires only  one-third  of  the land area compared to  conventional storage methods, lowers transit and overhead costs such as those associated with  gunny bags, reduces manpower  requirements,  and ensures consistent quality through scientific handling and storage practices. 32LMT of  Silos are currently functional.

Anna Chakra" Route optimization  tool:-  DFPD has launched the optimisation  tool  'Anna  Chakra' for Public Distribution  Supply (PDS) Chain on 05.12.2024. This tool  makes food safety nets more efficient,  contributing  to  reduced carbon  emissions, savings, and  efficiency  in  reaching the beneficiaries of a scheme that serves 81 crore vulnerable people.

PDS Supply Chain Optimisation programme started in  March 2023 and covers the routes transporting 680 LMT  of  food annually through PDS.

Under this  exercise, mapping of  FCI warehouses to  State warehouses (Ll level transport), state warehouse to FPS shops (L2 level transport), based on optimized results is done.

CCTV  and IoT technologies:-  Modern  CCTV cameras are being installed in  all  FCI owned and CWC  depots.

These technologies  transform depot operations by ensuring:-

- I. Real-time visibility
- II. Timely intervention
- III. Data-driven decision-making
- IV. Standardized operations across all depots.
5. (b) &  (c):  The steps taken by the Government to ensure timely procurement and full  payment to farmers are as under:
6. (i)  FCI,  the nodal central agency of  Government of  India, along with  other State Agencies undertakes  procurement of  wheat  and  paddy  under  Minimum Support  Price  (MSP) operation. Coarse grains/millets  in  central pool  are procured by  State Government Agencies only  under decentralized  procurement  system.
7. (ii)  FCI and various State Agencies in  consultation with  the State Government establish a large number of purchase centers at various man(iis and key points. The number of centers and their

locations are decided by  the State Governments, based on various parameters,  so as to maximize the MSP operations. Such extensive & effective price support operations have resulted in sustaining the income of farmers over a period and in providing the required impetus for  higher investmenE in agriculture sector for improved productivity.

- (iii)  Stocks conforming to the Government of India specifications which are offered by the farmers at purchase centers are procured by the Government Agencies at MSP. If  the farmers get prices better than the support price in  open market, they are free to sell their produce. Presence of Government Agencies ensures prevention of distress sale of food grains by the farmers.
- (iv)  Procurement of  foodgrains under MSP  operations is mandatorily being carried out  through State Procurement Portals which  has brought  in  substantial transparency in  the process with introduction of registration of farmers for sale of their produce at govt. procuring centers/ mandis, land/crop verification  and online payment of MSP directly  into the farmer's bank account.
- (v)  'One Nation, One MSP through DBT'  implemented across the country from  RMS 2021-22 onwards. Payment of  MSP has been ensured directly  into  farmers' account. DBT  of  MSP has brought in responsibility, transparency &  real time monitoring in the system.
- (vi)  in  order to widen the reach of  IVISP operations for  food grains, Government of  India has made a  provision  for  engagement of  Co-operative  societies/  Self  Help  Groups/  Panchayats/  Primary Agriculture  Credit  Societies  (PACS)/Farmers Producer  Organisations (FPOs)  by  the  State procuring agencies so that maximum farmers, can avail the benefit of price support operations.
- (d): All  the initiatives  mentioned at point  (a) above are found very helpful  to improve food grain storage under PDS.

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