(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate a plan for providing adequate storage capacity for agriculture produce;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to encourage private sector participation in creating such storage facilities in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) to (d): The Government is implementing the following schemes for providing
adequate storage capacity for agriculture produce in the country through private
participation.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution through Food
Corporation of India (FCI) has planned to establish new godowns of 3.41 lakh MT for
an estimated construction cost of Rs.164.00 crore, without land cost, in various
States during XI Five Year Plan to manage procurement/ maintenance of adequate
stocks for supplies in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and other Welfare
Schemes against the likely budget allocation of Rs.125 crores by Govt. of
India. The details of this shelf of projects are given in the enclosed Annexure-I.
The actual number of godowns taken up out of this will depend on the availability
of funds during the XI Plan period and suitable land from State Governments.
Under the Private Entrepreneur Godowns – 2008 Scheme of Department of Food and
Public Distribution, High Level Committee has approved a capacity of 126.35
lakh MT during the current financial year in the country. The details are
given in Annexure-II.
Central Warehousing Corporation is in the process of constructing 1.45 lakh
MT additional Storage space during 2009-10 for storage of foodgrains.
Ministry of Agriculture is also implementing a Capital Investment Subsidy
Scheme of Construction of Rural Godown since 1/4/2001. The main objectives of the
Scheme include creation of scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in
rural areas to meet out various requirements of farmers for storing farm produce,
processed farm produce, agricultural inputs, etc., and prevention of distress sale
by creating the facility of pledge loan and marketing credit. Under this scheme,
subsidy @ 25% is given to all categories of farmers, Agriculture graduates,
cooperatives & CWC/ SWCs. All other categories of individuals companies and
corporations are eligible for subsidy @ 15% of the project cost. In case of NE
States/hilly areas & SC/ST entrepreneurs and their cooperatives and Women
Farmers, subsidy shall be 33.33%. Since the inception of the scheme, 20689
rural godowns with a capacity of 240.87 lakh MTs involving release of eligible
subsidy of Rs.553.80 crore have been sanctioned under the scheme upto 30th June,
2009 .