Odisha Signs Tripartite Agreement for World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme

Bhubaneswar: In a significant development towards ensuring food security and addressing storage challenges, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked in Odisha for the construction of warehouses in what is set to become the world’s largest grain storage scheme through cooperatives. The agreement was formalized among construction firms, the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), and select Central Cooperative Banks (CCB) along with Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Larger Adivasi Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS).

Registrar Cooperative Societies, Uddhav Chandra Majhi, presided over the signing ceremony, marking a crucial step towards meeting the significant shortfall in warehouse capacity for storing the state’s food grains. With a current capacity of 11,92,760 metric tons against the requirement of 24,93,750 metric tons, this initiative aims to bridge the gap and enhance storage infrastructure through cooperative involvement.

The project aligns with the Government of India’s ambitious plan, the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme through Co-operatives,” launched in collaboration with the Odisha government. Under this scheme, warehouses with capacities ranging from 500 to 2500 metric tons will be constructed, and official channels indicate that the Food Corporation of India will utilize these facilities.

In the initial phase, 77 Primary Agricultural Cooperatives/Larger Adivasi Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS) out of the 2710 in the state have been selected for the pilot project. Of these, 56 have already signed tripartite MoUs with construction firms and NBCC, along with their respective Central Cooperative Banks. The remaining cooperatives are urged to expedite the signing process, emphasizing the collaborative effort to revolutionize grain storage in the state. This groundbreaking initiative not only addresses immediate storage needs but also empowers cooperatives to play a pivotal role in ensuring food security for the region.