(a) whether the Government is contemplating to construct godowns to meet the shortage
of storage capacity for onion;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the storage capacity of godowns for onion in various States of the country at present,
State-wise;
(d) the quantum of onion required to be stored each year; and
(e) the number of new godowns proposed to be constructed for the purpose in the
country, State-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY
AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) to (e): Ministry of Agriculture is implementing the Rural Godown Scheme for creation
of scientific storage capacity with allied facilities inrural areas to meet out various
requirements of farmers for storing farm produce, processed farm produce, agricultural
inputs, including onion, etc. As on 31st October, 2011, 25682 godowns having a capacity of
294.83 lakhs tones have been sanctioned by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) all
over the country. The scheme is being implemented in the XIth Plan Period with a target of
90 lakh tones. The Scheme is demand driven and back ended subsidy is made available for
construction of godowns to all categories of farmers, agricultural graduates, cooperatives,
individual companies and corporations and women farmers.
As reported by National Horticulture Research & Development Foundation (NHRDF)
that the estimated storage of onion during 2011 is 28.40 lakh MTs. State-wise estimates of
storage of onions in 2011 is given in Annexure. The requirement for storage of onions in the
country is about 30-32 lakh MTs.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) has
set up onion storage godown at Lasalgaon with a capacity of 1600 metric tones (MTs),
Pimpalgaon with a capacity of 1,000 MTs and at Delhi with a capacity of 4,000 MTs.
Further, NCDC has dovetailed its cold storage/storage programme for horticulture produce
with capital investment subsidy scheme of the government being implemented by National
Horticulture Board since 2000-01.