Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha that the government’s “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector” is being implemented to address the shortage of foodgrain storage and create decentralised scientific storage infrastructure through cooperatives.
Under the initiative, construction of godowns has been completed in 120 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across the country, creating a total storage capacity of 72,702 metric tonnes. This includes 11 PACS under the pilot phase, 90 in Rajasthan, 15 in Maharashtra, and 4 in Gujarat.
Shah said agencies such as the Food Corporation of India, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd., along with State Warehousing Corporations, have identified 378 districts and locations for storage infrastructure based on requirement.
The Food Corporation of India has also identified 216 potential locations across 18 States and Union Territories, mapping a storage requirement of about 26.03 lakh metric tonnes.
To encourage cooperatives, FCI has agreed to provide uniform hiring assurance for nine years for godowns constructed by PACS and other cooperative societies under the plan.