The fact that the nation’s storage capacity is less than half of its food grain production is reason for concern. A portion of the product is susceptible to insect assaults and bad weather since the granaries are overflowing. Post-harvest losses for grains and pulses were in the range of 4-6% and 5-8%, respectively, according to information provided to the Lok Sabha by the Centre in December of the previous year.
Source: India Today NE
In a nation where millions of people sleep on an empty stomach every night, this is a heinous waste of grains. Additionally, it is a major deterrent for farmers who work arduously to guarantee the food security of the country.
Foodgrains are damaged by improper and illogical storage, which also forces farmers to sell their harvest at a loss. By creating godowns at the PACS level, the government has done a commendable job of placing an equal emphasis on food production and food safety. According to the concept, these credit societies would serve as fair pricing shops for farmers as well as procurement hubs for government organisations including the Food Corporation of India. However, only around 63,000 of the 1 lakh PACS in the nation are really in use.
Source: The Economic Times
To fully use the potential of these organisations, which include millions of farmers among their members, the remaining ones must be reactivated as soon as possible.
In order to reduce post-harvest losses, storage facilities must be improved both quantitatively and qualitatively. Climate change is a serious concern for growers. Given the differences in crop yield and productivity brought on by heatwaves and other extreme weather events that are projected to grow in severity and frequency in the years to come, saving every grain must become the guiding principle.
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