- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Tue, 20 May 2025 08:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Bihar government has approved plans to significantly increase grain storage capacity in Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) across Bihar. In a review meeting held on Monday, Cooperative Minister Dr. Prem Kumar gave the green light to proposals for constructing new godowns, aiming to create a total storage capacity of 1.12 lakh tonnes.
Under the Central Government’s food storage scheme, godowns ranging from 50 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes in capacity will be built. The scheme is designed to benefit cooperative societies directly, with an initial target to extend support to 75 PACS. So far, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with 31 PACS, including two in Aurangabad, six in Nawada, four in West Champaran, three in Samastipur, two in Saharsa, ten in Saran, four in Siwan, and one in Supaul.
Proposals amounting to Rs 129.32 crore have been submitted for the construction of godowns with a combined capacity of 99,000 tonnes under 25 applications. The cost estimates for godowns vary based on capacity — Rs 1.30 crore for 1,000-tonne warehouses, Rs 2.76 crore for 2,000-tonne, Rs 3.33 crore for 2,500-tonne, Rs 6.17 crore for 5,000-tonne, and Rs 13.34 crore for 10,000-tonne facilities.
Cooperative societies will be required to contribute only 10 per cent of the construction cost, with the remaining 90 per cent provided as loans. Additionally, PACS will receive a 33 per cent subsidy under this scheme.
Currently, warehouses with capacities of 200, 500, and 1,000 tonnes are being built under various other schemes, where the department offers cooperative societies a 50 per cent grant and a 50 per cent interest-free loan. This new initiative is expected to further strengthen the state’s agricultural infrastructure and support farmers in better managing their produce storage.
