Grain Storage, Food Security and CSR

Can CSR provide a solution for the issue of Food Security and Grain Storage?

The food security for the millions of the poor has been a big issue.  While there have been reports of wastage of grains in transit and storage, the marginal farmer keeps the grain in his house for self-consumption as well as for sowing in the next season. This calls for addressing the issue in a differentiated manner at national and local level.

An overview of Global Food Losses and Waste

·         Almost one-third of food produced for human consumption—approximately 1.3 billion tonnes per year, which could feed the total global population of 7 billion—is either lost or wasted.

·         Overall food loss primarily occurs in the production to retail phase of the food chain.

·         Post-harvest losses occur mainly due to corruption and meagre infrastructure in the developing world.

·         Pre-harvest losses are another major factor in the developing world, as a result of insufficient investment in biosecurity practices.

·         Consumers in industrialised nations waste significantly more food than their counterparts in developing countries.

·         An increasing world population, and its progressively scarce resources, make reduction in food losses and waste a key component in any strategy for a sustainable future global food

The loss/ wastage of grains at National level:

The reports of losses of grains are staggering.  As per the recent report published in Hindustan Times on July 14, 2013,  “As millions of Indians surviving on less than R20 a day starve, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) lost rice and wheat worth R2,050 crore in transit and storage in the last three years”.  One of the main problems is lack of proper storage space.  About 11,07,638.8 metric tonnes (MT) of foodgrains in its godowns have been lost to wastage or pilferage since 2010. The math works out to almost Rs. 700 crore a year in grains that could otherwise feed at least 10 million hungry people for a few weeks.

It is said that about 30% of foodgrains supplied through the public distribution system (PDS) is lost every year. As per report dated Jan 10, 2013, available on the net, India there is glaring lack of infrastructure and food storage facilities, in a new study that says 21 million tonnes of wheat -- equivalent to the entire production of Australia -- goes waste in the country.  The loss of the grain was incurred even though the FCI spent millions of dollars trying to prevent it from being harmed while in storage.  It has admitted that large sums have been spent disposing of the rotten food.  

The problem appears to be heading backwards, going by FCI statistics. FCI had a covered storage facility for 26.59 million tonnes in 2003, and 25.86 million tones in April 2010, even as food grain production nationwide increased to 228 million tonnes in 2009 from 174.19 million tonnes in 2003. The solution ultimately lies in having mechanized silos rather than having just covered storage space.

Can CSR help in reducing these wastage?

In India, about 70% of farm produce is stored by farmers for their own consumption. Farmers store grain in bulk, using different types of storage structures made from locally available materials.

The major construction materials for storage structures in rural areas are mud, bamboo, stones, and plant materials. They are neither rodent-proof, nor secure from fungal and insect attack. Some of the major considerations in building a storage structure to minimise losses are:

·         the structure should be elevated and away from moist places in the house;

·         as far as possible, the structure should be airtight, even at loading and unloading ports;

·         rodent-proof materials should be used for construction of rural storages;

·         the area surrounding the structure should be clean to minimise insect breeding; and

·         the structure should be plastered with an impervious layer to avoid termite attack, or attack by other insects.

Petroleum product metal Drum Bin

Industry uses various types of petroleum product procured in drums.  These drums become scrap after use of product and are often sold as scrap.  Converting these drums  into simple storage drum will address the major issue of loss due to rodents, insects and termite   

This simple, low cost device (about 150 Kg) converts the scrap into a useful product helping farmers save their precious grains and helping nation in food security.

Would you become the first to convert the whole village into one having safe and secure grain storage facility in each house as part of CSR.

Please give your views/ comments.

Dinesh Agrawal