In a significant move to address the shortage of storage capacity for food grains in the country, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has embarked on the execution of the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector.” The pilot project has already commenced with construction underway in 13 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across various States and Union Territories.
The PACS, integral components of the short-term co-operative credit structure at the grassroots level, are at the forefront of this initiative. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah revealed that a total of 1,711 PACS have been identified for inclusion in the pilot project, with the collaboration of States, Union Territories, and national-level federations such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF).
The plan, approved by the Government on May 31, involves the creation of agricultural infrastructure at the PACS level. This includes the establishment of warehouses, custom hiring centers, processing units, fair price shops, and more through the convergence of existing central schemes. Notable schemes involved in the initiative include 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), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
The NCDC, in collaboration with organizations such as NABARD, NABCONS, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), Food Corporation of India (FCI), and National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), is spearheading the implementation of the pilot project. A memorandum of understanding has been signed among the Ministry of Cooperation, Department of Food and Public Distribution, FCI, and NCDC to ensure the full utilization of the storage capacity created at the PACS level.
To facilitate a seamless implementation process, an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) has been established. The IMC is authorized to modify guidelines and implementation methodologies of the schemes identified for convergence as needed.
Through the utilization of the schemes converged at the PACS level, these societies will be empowered to establish godowns for storage of food grains and agricultural produce, marketing sheds, farm machinery banks, among other facilities.
The initiative marks a pivotal step towards enhancing storage infrastructure and promoting agricultural development in the cooperative sector
