Godowns storage capacity doubled in state since 2014

The storage capacity of godowns for foodgrains in Telangana has nearly doubled since the formation of state eight years ago in 2014. In the last eight years, the storage capacity in government and private sectors increased from 39 lakh tonnes to 73 lakh tonnes.

According to a press release issued by the marketing department on Thursday, there were 750 godowns in the state with a capacity of 7.50 lakh tonnes. The state government recognised the importance of increasing the storage capacity on a war footing after realising that the existign godown were not enough to meet future needs and demand. The state government started construction of 475 new godowns in 364 locations with a capacity of 17.35 lakh tonnes with the assistance of Nabard at a cost of `10.24 crore. Of this, the construction works were completed in347 locations so far. With this, the storage capacity of godowns run by marketing department increased from 7.38 lakh tonnes to 24.65 lakh tonnes. These godowns are being used for storage of PDS rice, fertilisers, MSP operations etc.

At present, the state has different categories of godowns belonging TS Ware Housing Corporation, Civil Supplies Corporation, Markfed, Central Warehousing Corporation, Food Corporation of India, Investor Godowns,

Private Entreprenuer Guarantee, Agriculture Marketing Department Godowns, private sector etc which have a total storage capacity of 73.80 lakh tonnes. The overall capacity was just 39.01 lakh tonnes in 2014 at the time of formation of Telangana state. The government is also implementing e-nam (National Agriculture Market), a pan-india electronic trading portal launched on 14th April, 2016 completed funded by central government, in 58 agriculture markets across TS.

The number of Rythu Bazaars were 30 in 2014 and the state government sanctioned another 30 Rythu Bazars later of which 47 are currently functioning while remaining 13 are under various stages of construction.