Odisha allocates Rs 240 crore to strengthen grain storage infrastructure

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced a budgetary allocation of Rs 240 crore to enhance post-harvest food grain storage capacity across Odisha. The move is aimed at strengthening infrastructure for the safe storage of procured paddy and rice and improving overall grain management in the state.

The initiative is part of the Centre’s ‘World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan’ in the cooperative sector, which was first piloted in Madhya Pradesh in 2023. Odisha has joined the programme to bolster post-harvest management systems and streamline storage operations through cooperative institutions.

Infrastructure at PACS Level

Under the scheme, agricultural infrastructure is being developed at the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) level. The proposed facilities include decentralised godowns, custom hiring centres, processing units and fair price shops to improve accessibility and efficiency in rural areas.

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In the first phase, 19 godowns with a combined storage capacity of 31,500 metric tonnes have been identified for development. In addition, the state government plans to create an additional storage capacity of 3.97 lakh metric tonnes across 10 districts in subsequent phases.

Strengthening Paddy and Rice Storage

The Chief Minister said the enhanced infrastructure would facilitate the safe storage of paddy and rice procured by the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation. The Rs 240 crore allocation has been earmarked specifically to support the creation and upgradation of storage facilities.

Officials said the initiative is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, ensure better price realisation for farmers, and strengthen the cooperative framework for grain procurement and distribution in the state.