Food Corporation of India Develops Six New Silo Projects in Bihar, Punjab, and Gujarat
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has enhanced its storage and transportation infrastructure by developing six state-of-the-art silo projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in three states: Bihar, Punjab, and Gujarat. These projects are part of the 100-day achievements of the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
Details of the Silo Projects
The silo projects were built on a Design, Build, Finance, Own, and Operate (DBFOO) model with private investment and are now fully operational. Here are the details:
| Location | Developer | Capacity | Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darbhanga, Bihar | M/s Adani Agri Logistics (Darbhanga) Ltd. | 50,000 MT | April 2024 |
| Samastipur, Bihar | M/s Adani Agri Logistics (Samastipur) Ltd. | 50,000 MT | May 2024 |
| Sahnewal, Punjab | M/s Leap Agri Logistics (Ludhiana) Pvt. Ltd. | 50,000 MT | May 2024 |
| Baroda, Gujarat | M/s Leap Agri Logistics (Baroda) Pvt. Ltd. | 50,000 MT | May 2024 |
| Chheheratta, Punjab | M/s NCML Chhehretta Pvt. Ltd. | 50,000 MT | May 2024 |
| Batala, Punjab | M/s NCML Batala Pvt. Ltd. | 50,000 MT | June 2024 |
Benefits of the Silo Projects
These silo projects and transportation initiatives are part of FCI’s broader efforts to ensure food security and reduce losses by improving storage and transportation infrastructure. The silos are equipped with modern technology, ensuring better preservation of grains, reducing losses, and supporting farmers by providing improved procurement facilities.
Doubts Revealed
Food Corporation of India (FCI) -: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a government organization that helps make sure there is enough food for everyone in India. They store and distribute food grains like rice and wheat.
Silo -: A silo is a tall, round structure used to store large amounts of food grains like rice and wheat. It helps keep the grains safe from pests and bad weather.
Public-Private Partnership -: A Public-Private Partnership is when the government and private companies work together on a project. This helps share the costs and benefits between both parties.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs -: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is a part of the Indian government that looks after the interests of consumers. They make sure people get good quality products and services.
MT capacity -: MT stands for Metric Ton, which is a unit of weight. One Metric Ton is equal to 1,000 kilograms. So, a 50,000 MT capacity means the silo can hold 50,000,000 kilograms of grains.
Grain losses -: Grain losses happen when food grains get spoiled or eaten by pests. Modern technology in silos helps reduce these losses by keeping the grains safe and fresh.
Local farmers -: Local farmers are people who grow crops like rice and wheat in nearby areas. These silos help them store their grains safely and sell them at good prices.
