(a) whether foodgrains worth more than Rs.40,000 crore is damaged due to
moisture, birds, micro-organisms, rodents etc. every year;
(b) if so, the quantity and value of foodgrains damaged during each of the last three
years; and
(c) the steps the Government propose to take to reduce/check damage to the food
grains?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
(SHRI SBPBK SATYANARAYANA RAO)
(a) & (b): Exact quantum of foodgrains damaged due to moisture, birds, micro-
organisms, rodents etc. every year is not known. However, a Committee headed by Dr.
V.G. Panse in its report submitted in 1968 estimated annual losses in the foodgrains by
various factors including moisture, birds, micro-organisms, rodents at 9.33%. A survey
conducted by Directorate of Marketing and Inspection during 1973-74 estimated about
5% post-harvest losses in foodgrains out of which the storage losses were estimated at
about 2.7%. A survey conducted by Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute and
Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute during 1985-88 estimated
total foodgrains losses at about 4.12% by various factors at various post-harvest stages.
(c) To reduce/check damage to foodgrains during the post harvest period, the
Government of India launched Save Grain Campaign in 1969-70. The main thrust of
activities of this Organisation are training, demonstration and publicity programmes in
the field of scientific storage of foodgrains at farm level. Improvement of traditional
grain storage structures and popularisation of modern scientific storage structures like
Metal Bins, Pucca Khoties and RCC Bins are other activities which are carried out by
Save Grain Campaign for the benefit of farmers.