National level Coordination Committee meets for world’s largest grain storage plan
The ambitious plan envisages to transform
PACS into Multi-Service Societies
States of UP, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Assam, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Telangana have implemented its pilot project
The National
Level Coordination Committee (NLCC) for the World’s largest grain storage plan
held its maiden meeting in the Ministry of Cooperation, New Delhi on Monday.
Secretary,
Ministry of Cooperation, Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani along with Secretary
(Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), Secretary (Food and Public Distribution),
Secretary (Food Processing Industries), MD (NCDC) held the first meeting with
Food Corporation of India (FCI), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
Development (NABARD, WDRA and other stakeholders.
The
committee reviewed the status of implementation of its pilot project in 11
States, which was initiated last year. The plan envisages creation of various
agricultural infrastructure at PACS level, including warehouses, custom hiring centre,
processing units, Fair Price Shops, etc. through convergence of various
existing schemes of the Government of India (GoI), such as, Agriculture
Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI),
Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) Pradhan Mantri Formalization
of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) etc.
Speaking on the
occasion, the Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Dr Bhutani told that the
project is one of the most ambitious ones being undertaken by the Government of
India envisaging creation of warehouses at a decentralized level for nationwide
rollout of the plan.
The
Pilot project has been implemented by National Cooperative Development
Corporation (NCDC) with the support of NABARD, Food Corporation of India (FCI),
Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) in
coordination with States/ UTs concerned. Further, the pilot is being extended
in 500 additional PACS with the support of State Governments, NCCF, National
Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), etc.
States/
UTs and National level Cooperative Federations, like National Cooperative
Consumers Federation (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), have identified more PACS for creation of
storage capacity and other agricultural infrastructure under the Project.
The
Committee members also discussed about how to take the plan forward on a
nationwide scale, including the possible options for linkage of godowns with
various stakeholders.