Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 26: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the J&K region is dedicated to implementing essential Central Government schemes for the welfare of its people. These schemes include the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Mid-Day Meal (MDM), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Food Security Act (NFSA), and Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). FCI procures wheat, rice, and paddy at Minimum Support Price (MSP) through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). All foodgrains adhere to uniform quality specifications and are stored in FCI godowns under strict quality control. They are subsequently provided to state governments for the Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure national food security.
Currently, FCI maintains a substantial buffer stock, including 279.64 lakh metric tonnes (LT) of wheat, 330.24 LT of regular rice, and 94.41 LT of fortified rice. In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "AatmNirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India), FCI is working towards achieving self-sufficiency in foodgrains. The announcement has been made to replace normal rice with fortified rice (FRK) in all schemes by 2024.
The government remains committed to caring for vulnerable sections of society and improving infrastructure for nationwide food security. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, FCI distributed 324 LT of rice and 455 LT of wheat under PMGKAY. Additionally, 6.68 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of FRK rice were distributed under NFSA, MDM, and other welfare schemes in 2021-22 and 2022-23 to combat malnutrition.
FCI also takes measures to prevent the reuse of raw rice by implementing age testing using the Mixed Indicator Method (MIM). |
