Foodgrains storage capacity in Food Corporation of India's (FCI) godowns increased by about 9% at 306.12 lakh tonne in 2010 as compared to the previous year, Parliament was informed today.
Storage capacity in the country's largest grain procurement arm FCI increased by 25.11 lakh tonne till December 31, 2010, Food minister K V Thomas said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
Total storage capacity in FCI was 281.01 lakh tonne, both owned and hired, including covered and cover and flinth (CAP) as on December 31, 2009, Thomas added.
To substantially reduce CAP storage capacity, the government has formulated a guarantee scheme for construction of godowns for FCI and for states untertaking decentralised procurement of foodgrains through private entrepreneurs, CWC (Central Warehouse Corporation) and SWC (State Warehousing Corporation), Thomas addded.
The additional covered storage capacity required has been worked out to be about 150 lakh tonne in 19 states, the minister said.
The requirement of covered storage for foodgrains for the consuming areas has been worked out on the basis of four month's requirement of Public Distribution System and other welfare schemes in the state, Thomas said.
