Union Cabinet approves world’s largest grain storage scheme

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet approved the world’s largest grain storage scheme in the cooperative sector. Union Minister Anurag Thakur told that one lakh crore rupees will be spent on this scheme. This scheme will be started as a pilot project in 10 districts. Under the scheme, a godown of 2000 tonnes capacity will be built in every block.

Farmers will be able to sell grains according to their own

Anurag Thakur told that an inter-ministerial committee will be formed for this. Union Minister Anurag Thakur informed about the decisions of the cabinet. Anurag Thakur said that due to lack of storage, the wastage of food grains would stop.

The farmers who had to sell their produce at throwaway prices due to non-availability of storage will no longer have to do that either. They will be able to sell grains according to their own.

Anurag Thakur said that India is one of the largest producers in the world. Other large producers like Russia and Brazil have more storage capacity than production, but we only have 47% storage capacity.

He said that a godown of 2000 tonnes would be made in each block. Godowns of 500-2000 tonnes will also be built in Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

Transport cost for farmers will be less

The Union Minister said that the higher storage capacity would reduce the transportation cost for the farmers. This will strengthen food security. About 3,100 lakh tonnes of food grains are produced annually in the country. But under the current capacity, only 47 per cent of the total produce can be kept in the godowns. Apart from this, it has also been decided to start City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain – CITIIS 2.0 program today. About Rs 1866 crore will be spent on this scheme.

There will be 5 major benefits from the implementation of this scheme

• Increase in food storage capacity will reduce imports
• Employment opportunities will be created at Panchayat level
• Farmers will get better price on produce
• There will be a reduction in the transportation cost of grains
• Food will not spoil, this will stop the wastage of food
• Storage capacity will be 2150 lakh tonnes in 5 years