LOSS OF FOODGRAINS DUE TO INADEQUATE STORAGE

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Foodgrains procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) are stored on scientific lines. However, some storage losses occur, inter-alia, due to loss of moisture, multiple handling, spillage and long storage. According to information received from FCI, the storage losses during the period 2000-01 was 2.24 lakh MTs while it was 1.6 lakh MTs and 1.51 lakh MTs during 1999-2000 and 1998-99 respectively. FCI has a Plan scheme of construction of godowns. FCI has constructed a storage capacity of 284620 MTs at a cost of Rs. 6269.65 during the last three years. FCI has also in the recent past given 7 years guarantee for the construction of covered storage capacity of 85.32 lakh MT in various States out of which 20.51 lakh MT storage capacity has already been realised. This information was given in Rajya Sabha today by Shri Shanta Kumar, Minister of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution, in reply to a question of Shri Janardhana Poojary.