Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Continuing with its efforts to ensure that enough foodgrains stocks are made available in every part of the country during countrywide lockdown in the wake of Coronavirus outbreak, Food Corporation of India (FCI) has set a new record in single day movement by moving 70 rakes carrying 1.93 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) continuously for two days on April 3, 2020 and April 4, 2020.
Since the lockdown on March 24, 2020, FCI has done average movement of 1.41 Lakh MT foodgrains per day as against the pre-lockdown daily average of about 0.8 Lakh MT. A total of 605 rakes carrying about 16.94 Lakh MT foodgrains have been transported across the country during this period.
Punjab accounted for about 46% of total foodgrains movement at 7.73 LMT followed by Haryana (3.02 LMT), Telangana (2.04 LMT), and Chhattisgarh (1.15 LMT). Other states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh etc. moved the rest.
Among the consuming states, maximum induction was done in Uttar Pradesh (2.07 LMT) followed by Bihar (1.96 LMT), West Bengal (1.65 LMT), and Karnataka (1.57 LMT). Keeping special focus on North East, a quantity of 1.4 LMT foodgrains have been inducted into the North Eastern states during the lockdown period. FCI is ensuring that the requirements of every state is met without any shortages. As on April 4, 2020, FCI had 55.47 Million Metric Tonnes foodgrains (31.23 MMT Rice and 24.24 MMT Wheat) in central pool, according to a PIB release.
In addition to meeting the regular requirements of foodgrains under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and additional allocation under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY), FCI is providing wheat and rice directly without going through the e-auction route, at Open Market sale rates to ensure continuous supply of foodgrains in the open market.
Wheat is given for meeting the requirements of manufacturers of wheat flour and other wheat products based on the assessment of requirements done by the respective District Magistrates. Rice is given to the state governments for further distribution through their channels. So far FCI has allotted 1.38 LMT Wheat to 13 states and 1.32 LMT Rice to 8 states under this model.