Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan Reviews FCI’s Preparation to meet its mandate for Northeastern states

Guwahati, February 27, 2018:

The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan chaired a review meeting today at Guwahati on FCI’s preparation to meet its mandate under the NFSA 2013 regime in the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram to implement the status of NFSA in these states.

The order to ensure the food grain availability to 81%, 63%, 88% and 65% population coverage under NFSA in the following states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur to be highlighted and also FCI will increase its storage capacity in North Eastern Zone from 4.90 LMT as said in the meeting.

Further, the capacity enhancement will be done to the tune of 25,000 MT under PEG Scheme at Sorbhog which will bring underutilization soon.

The engineering wing of FCI is constructing around 54,000 MT capacity in the states of North East zone. Moreover, the stocks that were being moved by Rail Ex North India for storage capacities and remunerative prices to the farmers of the region. During the year 2016-17, a quantity of 67,400 MT paddy was procured by the corporation against 22,800 MT procured during the year 2014-15.

Lastly ensuring food security in the NER and induction of sufficient quantum of foodgrains Ex- Surplus states of North India to North Eastern states.