The
farmers toil in the hard sun and depend on rains to feed the Indian country.
The same farmers are also underpaid for the yield generated. The Prime Minister released the survey
report in 2012 wherein it was stated that 47 % of Indians are suffering from
malnutrition. It means 1 in every 2
Indian does not get 2 full meals a day. This is indeed a sad state of affair in
the country..jpg)
Before
I move on the Logistics point of view for food grains, let us have a look at
our daily eating habits. When we eat
food, be it any meal of the day, or in restaurants, there has been many
occasions where the food has been wasted. Even for a matter of fact in
conferences, seminars, canteen or in buffets, food is tend to be wasted. The
reason being we take more food in plate than what we can eat. Then we see a waste cover in each of the
eating area comprising of all food waste. It is very sad because there are many people
who cannot afford to buy food and on the other hand we have all the waste go
down the drain.
Moving
on the next part is the amount of food grains lost due to poor storage facility,
skilled manpower and infrastructure in India. “Admitting the grave problem of
wastage, minister of state for agriculture and food processing industries Tariq Anwar said
that every year India faces a loss of Rs 50 thousand crores worth of both
perishable and non-perishable food item. "After 1960, India went on to
become a food surplus country from being a food deficit country but wastage has
still not been brought under control.”
As a result of which over 40% of produce is getting wasted every year.
But that 40 % would have fed a larger part of 47% people under malnutrition.As
Per the IMR report the food tonnage loss in India is equivalent to entire wheat
production in Australia.
I
also believe the FIFO system of food grain movement is not working at all. If
it was, then, FCI would have saved huge amount of food grains from being
rotted. Also an effective pesticide control is moving thereby enabling pest to
damage the food.
Ours
is a country that witnessed Green
Revolution and white revolution. As a country India has always stood up to
challenge. Its time for Food Logistics revolution. Better infrastructure, storage facilities, and
good logistics planning will help in saving huge amount of food grains and
reduce cost to the government by generating revenue. Even if the government is
not looking for additional revenue, then it must at least look forward to serve
millions of Indians who still need meal to survive.
