Centre, states to take stock of grain storage capacity

The huge stock lying in the traditional food baskets of Punjab and Haryana and the slow movement of these stocks are likely to create pressure on procurement agencies in the coming kharif season.

Food secretaries across India will have a brainstorming session with the Union food secretary in New Delhi on Tuesday to take stock of the situation. The preparedness for procuring paddy will be the focus of the discussion.

The rapid rise in the volume of foodgrain production in the past few years has engaged food procurement and distribution agencies in more than one way.

Although it is an annual ritual to take cognisance of the requirements before the procurement season starts, the growing self sufficiency of other states has affected the utilisation of foodgrain in Punjab and Haryana.

The state of Punjab has a stock of 6.3 million tonnes and another 2.3 million tonnes is under processing. Against the total required contribution of 9.4 million, the state still has a pending stock of 8.6 million tonnes.

This is an area of concern because like wheat, rice cannot be kept in open plinth. If the covered godowns are not emptied in time the storage chain will be in a mess.