MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a): Procured foodgrains are stored by FCI in a scientific manner in covered godowns and in Cover & Plinth (CAP) storage. Scientific codes of practices for safe storage of foodgrains are followed during storage. Inspite of all precautions, some quantity of foodgrains may get damaged/ become non-issuable during storage due to various reasons such as storage pests’ attack, leakages in godowns, procurement of poor quality stocks, exposure to rains, floods, negligence on the part of concerned persons in taking precautionary measures etc.
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The quantity of foodgrains accrued as damaged/non-issuable in Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the last three years and current year is as under:
Year
Quantity of Damaged/non-issuable foodgrains (in tons)
2013-14
24695.455
2014-15
18847.226
2015-16
3115.684
2016-17 (01.03.2017)
8679.394
Steps taken by the Government to avoid damage of foodgrains in storage are at Annexure-I.
(b) The peak stock requirement for Central Pool foodgrains generally happens on 1st June every year. Total storage capacity (both covered and CAP) available with FCI (owned as well as hired) and State agencies for storage of Central Pool stocks as on 1st June during the last three years with corresponding stock position in Central Pool is as under:
(Fig. in Lakh Tons)
As on
Stock position (capacity required)
Storage capacity available for Central Pool stocks
Storage capacity created during last three years
(PEG & Plan Scheme)
Year
Capacity created
01.06.14
622.31
758.52
2014-15
8.73
01.06.15
568.34
726.43
2015-16
7.21
01.06.16
534.29
811.94
2016-17 (upto January, 2017)
2.60
The peak stock position has been less than the total storage capacity.
Following steps have been taken by the Government in order to augment covered storage capacity in the country.
1. Government of India has formulated Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme in the year of 2008 & 2009 for construction of storage capacity through Private Entrepreneurs, CWC and SWCs. Under this scheme, storage capacity for foodgrains is created by private parties, CWCs, SWCs and other State agencies. A guarantee of hiring for 10 year is given in case of private investors and 9 years in case of CWC, SWC and other State agencies. Godowns are constructed by the private parties, CWC and SWC and other State agencies by arranging their own funds and lands. After construction, FCI takes over the godowns on guaranteed on hiring basis. A capacity of 151.04 lakh tons has been sanctioned/allotted to Private Investors, CWC and SWCs. A capacity of 136.03 lakh tons has already been completed as on 31.01.2017. A capacity of 49.88 lakh ton, 8.30 lakh ton, 6.46 lakh ton and 2.56 lakh ton is created during 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 (28.02.2017) respectively.
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2. Under 12th Five Year Plan period, Government has approved a storage capacity of 2,92,730 tons in North Eastern States and 76,220 tons in other States. A capacity of 2500 tons, 43480 tons, 64810 tons and 3980 tons has been created during 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 & 2016-17 upto 28.02.2017 in North Eastern States. Besides, 20,000 ton capacity has been created in the States of other than North East during 2013-14.
3. Government has approved action plan for construction of steel silos in the country for a capacity of 100 lakh tons through private partnership in phased manner.
(c): There is no report of damaged directly attributed due to lack of adequate storage and handling facilities. However, details of storage losses of foodgrains in FCI during last three years are at Annexure-II.
(d) & (e): Government is taking the following steps to keep the damages/rotting of foodgrains to bare minimum.
1. Stocks are issued on FIFO Principle.
2. As per FCI Headquarters Instructions, no stock is stored by FCI in un-scientific (katcha) plinths.
3. Timely prophylactic and curative treatment of stocks and regular inspections are carried out by FCI to check the quality of the stocks.
4. Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional & Zonal levels in FCI to regularly monitor damages.
Owing to above steps, the quantity of damaged/non-issuable foodgrains accrued in FCI has been brought down from 24695.455 tons in 2013-14 to 18847.226 tons in 2014-15 and to 3115.684 tons in 2015-16.
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ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 4285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28TH MARCH, 2017 IN LOK SABHA
STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT AVOID THE DAMAGE OF FOODGRAINS IN STORAGE
Before the commencement of Rabi and Kharif Marketing Seasons, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Govt. of India issues uniform specifications for procurement of foodgrains for the Central Pool. These uniform specifications are circulated to F.C.I. and all State Govts./Agencies with instructions to ensure that foodgrains are procured strictly in accordance with the uniform specifications.
2. Foodgrains procured by F.C.I. and State Govts/Agencies are stored in covered godowns as well as in CAP (cover and plinth).
3. During storage, the following steps are taken for safe storage and preservations of foodgrains:
(i) All godowns are constructed as per specifications.
(ii) Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices.
(iii) Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene sheets are used to check migration of moisture from the floor to the foodgrains.
(iv) Fumigation covers, nylon ropes, nets and insecticides for control of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns.
(v) Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation) are carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests.
(vi) Effective rat control measures, both in covered godowns as well as in CAP storage are used.
(vii) Foodgrains in ‘Cover and Plinth’ (CAP) storage are stored on elevated plinths and wooden crates are used as dunnage material. Stacks are properly covered with specifically fabricated low-density black polythene water -proof covers and tied with nylon ropes/nets.
(viii) Regular periodic inspections of the stocks/godowns are undertaken by qualified and trained staff and all senior officers. The health of the foodgrains is monitored at regular intervals by a system of checks and super checks at different levels. Following Checks and Super checks are conducted in the godowns by FCI to ensure proper preservation of foodgrains in the storage.
a) Fortnightly inspection of stocks on 100% basis by Technical Assistant.
b) Monthly inspection by Manager(QC)
c) Quarterly inspection by AGM(QC)
d) Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.
(ix) The principle of “First in First Out” (FIFO) is followed to the extent possible so as to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.
(x) Only covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transit.
(xi) Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages.
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ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 4285 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28TH MARCH, 2017 IN LOK SABHA
STATE-WISE DETAILS OF STORAGE LOSSES OF LAST THREE YEARS
Qty of Loss (in Tons)
Regions
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
Punjab
84408
10877
-42293
Haryana
5532
-44619
-41605
Uttar Pradesh
14883
12945
13513
Uttrakhand
730
260
415
Rajasthan
-9677
-13225
-7370
Jammu & Kashmir
153
454
195
Delhi
1627
1203
647
Himachal Pradesh
-97
-100
-48
Maharashtra
13700
12544
12653
Gujarat
552
3288
3081
Madhya Pradesh
-6372
-40732
-27764
Chhattisgarh
8855
5698
8568
Andhra Pradesh
27121
5776
7829
Karnataka
8088
6792
3680
Tamil Nadu
6885
8629
4562
Kerala
1250
1069
1042
West Bengal
8762
3683
1801
Orissa
6293
3680
2951
Bihar
7220
5930
5386
Jharkhand
2277
2222
1620
NEF Region
1001
575
626
Assam
3501
3923
2969
N&M Region
291
285
302
Arunachal Pradesh
156
136
138
Note: 1. (-) minus indicates gain
2. Year 2013-14 & 2014-15 are audited figures
3. Year 2015-16 is operational figures
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