Fresh wheat stock being piled in open at FCI godown

VARANASI: A number of jute sacs filled with wheat lying in the uncovered (open) space at the main food storage centre (godown) of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Manduadih on Saturday were a clear indication that the godown authorities would have their task cut out when the inflow of procured wheat gathered momentum.
The main FCI godown in the region, with storage capacity of 70,540 MT, is already loaded with nearly 60,000 MT rice (as per the stock position of godown on Saturday).The condition of storage of wheat at the godown could be easily understood with the regional food controller (RFC) office setting up the target of procurement of 1.13 lakh MT wheat in the Varanasi division this year.
It may be mentioned here that as per reports of district agriculture department, the average wheat production per hectare in Varanasi district is 32 quintals. If the production of wheat in cultivated land in an area of 69,650 hectares is calculated, the wheat production comes to a whopping 2,22,880 MT this year.
"The covered space in the godown is loaded with rice and nearly 1280 MT of wheat under two racks have come from Sitapur district this week. Presently, around 1200 MT of wheat from last year's stock is also stored here and we are only in a position to provide plinth (open) area in the godown to store wheat. The condition should improve by next month when the stock of rice would be replaced with wheat," said Santosh Kumar, manager (depot), FCI.
Though, the depot manager emphasized that wooden crates with polythene cover and aeration facility are being maintained at the godown and quality inspection is being done to ensure safe and proper storage of wheat, the condition of wheat, especially that of last year's stock, is enough to raise eyebrows.
Similarly, one of the biggest FCI godowns in the region is also struggling with scarcity of gunny bells (jute sacs for storing wheat with each bell having 500 jute sacs). According to depot manager, the godown with 3,500 bells is now left with only 512 bells, as a majority of gunny bells have been supplied to Jhansi and Gorakhpur to fulfill the demand. "If the scarcity of gunny bells are not met, we would not be in a position to store wheat when it comes from local areas," he added.