LARGEST STORAGE PLAN IN AGRICULTURE – AGRICULTURE
News:
PM Modi launches ‘world’s
largest agri storage plan’; Rs 1.25 lakh cr outlay over 5 years
What's
in the news?
●
The government plans to set up a storage
infrastructure of 700 lakh metric tons
over the next five years at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
Key
takeaways:
●
The Union Cabinet of India has approved
the Constitution and Empowerment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for
Facilitation of “World’s Largest Grain
Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector”.
Aim:
●
The new scheme aims to bridge the
production and storage gap by significantly increasing storage capacity and
reducing wastage.
●
The scheme aims to expand foodgrain
storage facilities in the country that will boost the cooperative sector.
Objective
and Feature of the Plan:
1.
Create 100% Storage Capacity:
●
The grain storage scheme aims to create
storage capacity for storing 100% of India's grain production.
2.
Integrate PACS godowns with Food Grain Supply Chain:
●
It aims to seamlessly integrate PACS
godowns with the food grain supply chain, with a collaborative effort of NABARD
and spearheaded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
3.
Convergence of Various Existing Schemes:
●
The initiative is being implemented
through the convergence of various existing schemes like the Agriculture
Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), etc. to
enable PACS participating in the project to avail subsidies and interest
subvention benefits for undertaking infrastructure development.
Target:
●
With the current grain storage capacity at
approximately 1,450 lakh tonnes, this scheme seeks to add 700 lakh tonnes of
storage over the next 5 years, eventually reaching a total capacity of 2,150 lakh tonnes.
Budget:
●
The government will make an allocation of
approximately Rs 1 lakh crore for the
scheme.
Methodology:
●
There shall be establishment of godowns
with a capacity of 2000 tonnes at the level of Primary Agricultural Credit
Societies (PACS) in every block.
Implementation
Strategy:
●
Ministry
of Cooperation will implement a pilot project in at
least 10 selected districts.
Go
back to basics:
Agencies involved in
grain management presently are as follows.
●
Food Corporation of India (FCI)
●
Central Warehouse Corporation
●
Warehouse Development Regulatory
Authority, Railways
●
Civil Supply Departments of States