Food Corporation of India has reported a storage requirement under the government’s world’s largest grain storage scheme in Punjab. The immediate exam value lies in the implementation gap: Punjab has identified cooperatives for storage creation, but godown construction is still pending.
What happened
According to the official communication, the Food Corporation of India has provided a storage requirement of 5 lakh metric tonnes in 9 districts of Punjab under the grain storage scheme. Punjab has so far identified 30 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies and cooperatives with a combined capacity of 2.84 lakh metric tonnes to create storage under the scheme.
Background and earlier position
The scheme aims to expand storage at the local level through cooperatives and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, rather than depending only on central procurement and large conventional warehouses. The key policy idea is to improve decentralised storage, reduce dependence on ad hoc arrangements, and strengthen the rural cooperative network.
What remains unresolved
Related current affairs
- World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector: 1,015 PACS identified; 313 PACS completed for 1.80 LMT capacity
- World’s Largest Decentralized Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector: progress on godowns, hiring assurance and SOP
- Model bye-laws for PACS circulated and adopted in Punjab; inclusivity for women and SC/ST membership
- Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in Punjab under Central Sponsored Project
- National Cooperative Database (NCD): Coverage of cooperatives and status of PACS/M-PACS, computerization and ERP onboarded
- Upper House passes Bills to change name of Kerala, strengthen NCDC