The Ministry of Cooperation provided an update on the implementation status of the decentralized grain storage plan in the Cooperative Sector since its initiation on May 31, 2023. According to the written reply by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in Lok Sabha, no reports or complaints have been received from the state of Uttar Pradesh regarding the plan's implementation.
To ensure proper utilization of godowns, employees of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Cooperative Societies in Uttar Pradesh have received training in modern warehouse management organized by NABARD and WDRA. However, no specific training requests have been received from Jaunpur district, though the state can raise requests for such training for their PACS/Cooperative Societies with NABARD and WDRA.
The decentralized storage plan involves creating various agricultural infrastructure including godowns, custom hiring centers, processing units, Fair Price Shops, and cold storage facilities at PACS and other cooperative societies levels. This is achieved through convergence of multiple existing Government of India schemes: Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), and Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME).
Several districts in Uttar Pradesh are listed under Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), with Unnao and Sonbhadra in Purvanchal region, and Jaunpur, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Banda, Jalaun, and Jhansi in Bundelkhand region specifically mentioned. The decentralized grain storage plan is one component of PMDDKY that promotes integrated agricultural infrastructure and value addition in rural areas. The plan is expected to generate substantial employment opportunities through storage infrastructure creation coupled with primary processing and allied facilities.
Jaunpur district can participate in the plan with approval from the District Cooperative Development Committee (DCDC). The detailed project report is sanctioned by the respective District Central Cooperative Bank after scrutinizing all requisite documents, while NABARD verifies the DPR through their dedicated portal for advance subsidy claims. Physical verification after project completion is conducted by the respective bank and NABARD.