Parliament Question: Raw Rice Lifting by FCI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 255 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025 RAW RICE LIFTING BY FCI *255. SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): the exact quantity of parboiled and raw rice stock presently available in Food Corporation of India (FC:1) godowns in Odisha as on date; (b): whether the actual lifting of rice per months has been much lower than the target by FCI; (c): if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps being taken by the Government to resolve the issue; (d): whether the Government is taking any immediate measures to prevent the spo'ilage of rice lying in FCI godowns for a prolonged period and if so, the details thereof along with the action plan to prioritise the lifting and distribution of rice that is at risk of deterioration; (e): whether the Government has any plans to create additional storage capacity and if so, the details thereof; and (f): whether the Government is making temporary godowns in Odisha to avoid recurrence of such situations in the future and if so, the details thereof along wit II the timeline for their implementation? ANSWER MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI) (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. 8$88&-2- STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 255 (15th POSITION) DUE FOR ANSWER ON 6lh August, 2025 IN THE LOK SABHA (a): The total quantity of parboiled and raw rice stock presently available in Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns in Odisha as on 01.07.2025 is as under: Raw Rice – 71691 MT Parboiled Rice – 380535 MT (b) to (c): FCI has lifted / dispatched 6.19 LMT of rice as against planned 8.9 LMT in the year 2025-26 (till June 2025), thereby achieving 77 % of the planned lifting. The lifting / dispatches of foodgrains in Odisha is comparable to rest of India. Odisha produces more than 90% Boiled rice which is usually consumed in nearby states i.e. Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand where these State Governments lift most of their National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A) requirements from their own procured Rice under DCP mode and their lifting from FCI keeps on varying on month to month basis, accordingly impacting the lifting/movement from Odisha. Other operational constraints like floods, railway restrictions due to congestion at terminals etc. impacting the overall execution of the monthly movement plans. This is constant endeavour of Government of India to work for the mitigation of the operational constraints so as to ensure achievement of liftjlng of foodgrains as planned. (d): Government of India has taken several measures to prevent the spoilage of rice lying in FCI godowns to prevent wastage of food grains; inter-alia, including the following: (1) Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices. (ii) Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene sheets are used to check migration of moisture from the floor to the foodgrains. (111) Fumigation covers, nylon ropes, nets and insecticides for control of stored grain insect pests are provided in all the godowns. (iv) Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigatiotI) are carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests. (V) Effective rat control measures are taken-J/1- (Vi) Foodgrains in Transit Storage/'Cover and Plinth’ (CAP) storage are stored on elevated plinths and wooden crates are used as dunnage material. Stacks are properly covered with specifically fabricated low-density black polythene water - proof covers and tied with nylon ropes/nets. (Vll) Regular periodic inspections of the stocks/godowns are undertaken by qualified and trained staff and all senior officers. The health of the foodgrains is monitored at regular intervals by a system of checks and super checks at different levels . (VIII) The principle of “First in First Out” (FIFO) is followed so as to avoid longer storage offoodgrains in godowns. (ix) Only covered rail wagons are used for movement of foodgrains so as to avoid damage during transit. (X) Damage Monitoring Cells have been set up at District, Regional and Zonal levels to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages. In case any negligence is reported suitable action is taken against officers / officials found responsible. (xi) Identify & repair all the leakage point in the roof is done periodically. (XII) Cleaning of drainages in the godown premises ensured. (Xlll) Ensuring no seepage inside the godowns. (XIV) Ensuring no clogging up of water in the premises. (e) & (f): The requirement of Storage capacity in FCI depends upon the level of procurement, requirement of buffer norms and Public Distribution System (PDS) operations for food grains (Rice and Wheat). FCI continuously assesses and monitors the storage capacity and based on the requirement and storage gap assessment, storage capacities are created/hired through following schemes at a Pan India level: --4- Construction of Silos under PPP mode 1. 11. Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG)Scheme 111. Central Sector Scheme “Storage &Godowns”. IV. Hiring of godown from Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)/ State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs)/State Agencies. V. Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS) VI . Creation of godowns under Asset Monetization. VIi . Covered and Plinth (CAP) Hiring Scheme -2025 Vlll. Modified PEG scheme for North East & Hilly states with longer guarantee period of 15 years At present there is no proposal for making temporary godowns in Odisha state.