Bulk handling and storage of foodgrain procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state government agencies will definitely go a modern way over the next few years with the private sector entering into the arena with state-of-the-art technology for preserving foodgrain.
As a part of the pilot project, the FCI had entered a build, own and operate (BOO) agreement for 20 years with Adani Agri-Logistics Ltd (AALL), a part of the Rs 18,000-crore Adani Group, for setting up two silos at Moga in Punjab and Kaithal in Haryana in 2005. The facilities have already started operations.
AALL has already invested Rs 600 crore for building the two base silos and five field depots at Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Navi Mumbai and Hoogly, which have combined storage capacities to the tune of more than 5.5 lakh tonne of foodgrain.
?The entire handling of foodgrain right from receiving it at base depots, quality check up, cleaning and drying, storage, transportation to field depots etc are fully computerised and automated for ensuring longer life and minimising loses,? Pardeep Sabharwal, deputy general manager (operation) of AALL told FE.
The silos at Kaithal spread across 32 acres, has already procured more than 1.5 lakh tonne wheat during the recently concluded rabi procurement season.
As an incentive, farmers brining in their agricultural produce were paid Rs 19.70 a quintal, besides the minimum support price of Rs 1,000 a quintal.
The procured foodgrain, kept under a constant temperature, would been soon transported to its field depots located at Mumbai and Hooghly, through specially- designed rail wagon.
The other AALL facility at Moga, which was inaugurated last year, is linked to the Chennai, Coimbatore and Bangalore field depots.
?Once the grain reach the field depots, we will deliver it to FCI, both in bulk and bagged form as per requirements,? Sabharwal said.
He said the FCI?s responsibility gets over once the grain reach the silos. On the first year of operation, the FCI would pay Rs 2,415 for a tonne every year at base depot.
Sabharwal, who is in charge of the Kaithal silo,n says, since arrival of foodgrain in the silos to the centre, it is tested for nine quality parameters like moisture content, presence of foreign matter, touched or germ eaten foodgrain, live infestation etc.
This year, during April 15-May 5, the silos handled close to 8,000 vehicles, which ferried the foodgrain to the depot.
?We invited AALL for building silos after a global tender. If they find it useful, feasible and profitable, other houses will come forward too,? Alok Sinha, chairman & managing director, FCI, said.
The quality of wheat is tested for nine quality parameters like moisture content, foreign matter, live infestation etc on receipt at the base depot. This is followed by modern cleaning and drying operations, through sieves, magnetic separators etc to remove dust, tailings and foreign matter.
For example, as per the agreement signed with FCI, food grain with less than 12% moisture content would be allowed into the silos.
The silos are also equipped with modern cleaning and drying operations, through sieves, magnetic separators and other such technologies to remove dust, tailings and foreign matter.