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5th June 2024 (9 Topics)

World’s largest grain storage plan

Context

The National Level Coordination Committee (NLCC) for the World’s largest grain storage plan recently held its maiden meeting in the Ministry of Cooperation, New Delhi.

What is the World’s largest grain storage plan?

  • This pilot project aims to enhance agricultural infrastructure at the grassroots level by establishing facilities like warehouses, processing units, and Fair Price Shops in Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS).
  • It integrates several existing government schemes like the 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.
  • Implementing Agencies: 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.

Need of such initiative

  • At present, India holds 11% (16 Crore Hectare) of World’s total Cultivable Area (138 Crore Hectare) and 18% (140 Crore) of Total World Population (790 Crore).
  • However, the total Food Grain Production in India is 311 MMT and total Storage Capacity in India is only 145 MMT, i.e, there is a shortage of 166 MMT in Storage capacity.(as per FAO Statistical Data 2021).
  • While other countries boast a surplus of 131%, India faces a deficit of 47% in storage capacity.

Fact Box:

Primary Agricultural Credit Societies

  • PACS are the grass root level arms of the short-term co-operative credit structure.
  • They deal directly with the rural (agricultural) borrowers, give those loans and collect repayments of loans given and also undertake distribution and marketing functions.
  • They provide short-term and medium-term agricultural loans
  • First PACS formed in: 1904

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

  • Launched in: 2020
  • Type: Central Sector Scheme
  • Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a financing facility.
  • Mains focus area: post-harvest management, community farming assets
  • Objective:  To provide all-around financial support to the farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, farmer groups (PACS, Farmer Producer Organisations, Joint Liability Groups etc).
  • Credit Guarantee: for loans up to Rs 2 crore. This is done under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme.

Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI)

  • It is an open ended, demand driven, credit linked, back ended subsidy scheme.
  • Beneficiaries: Individuals, Agri-preneurs, farmers, FPOs, Cooperatives, and state agencies etc. are eligible for assistance.

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