New Delhi: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said on Wednesday that in financial year 2019-20, foodgrain wastage stood at 1,930 tonnes, which was 0.002 percent of the total procurement. The total procurement in FY 2019-20 was 751.72 LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes). The minister shared the data on Twitter and asserted that the notion that foodgrain wastage is high in FCI (Food Corporation of India) godowns is not true.
As per the data shared by Paswan, foodgrain wastage in India in financial year 2018-19 was at 5,214 tonnes, which was 0.006 percent of the total procurement of 801 LMT. In FY2017-18, out of the 690 LMT of foodgrains which was purchased by the government, 2,664 tonnes or 0.003 percent was wasted. Wastage stood at 0.014 percent out of a total procurement of 610 LMT in FY2016-17. And in FY2015-16, a total of 623.06 LMT of wheat and rice were purchased, out of which 3,116 tonnes or 0.005 percent was wasted.
While pointing out that the government has been following the practice of FIFO (First In First Out) when it comes to storage and distribution of foodgrains, the minister said that India is looking to build steel silos of 100 LMT capacity to reduce food wastage to zero in the future.
The problem of foodgrain wastage in India primarily exists because of poor storage facilities. The situation is grim because even if foodgrain wastage stands at a small percentage of the entire procurement, India's position in the Global Hunger Index has deteriorated severely in the last three years. From being ranked at the 80th position in 2015, India has slipped to 100th position in 2017, 103rd position in 2018 and 102nd in 219.