Union Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday stressed the need for using modern technologies in foodgrain management and quality control to bring more transparency and minimum human interface.
Reviewing the operations of the Food Corporation of India in the UP region at a meeting in Lucknow, he called upon all the officers to send their suggestions to make the functioning of FCI more efficient and modern.
He also directed FCI officers to use their expertise in the field of foodgrain management and suggest the better design of godowns in order to create higher capacities in a limited area of land.
While reviewing the issues related to wheat and paddy procurement, Goyal directed that FCI should open more procurement centres covering almost all revenue districts so the farmers have the option to sell their produce to the FCI or to any other agency.
He appreciated the use of E-POP machines at purchase centres in UP and advised that the same system should be implemented in other states also in order to bring more transparency in the procurement system from farmers.
Keeping in view the demand, population and vast geography of Uttar Pradesh, the Union Minister directed that more quantities of wheat should be offered under the open market sale scheme to control the market price of wheat.
While reviewing the storage capacities in the state, Goyal said that all the godowns of FCI, both owned and hired, should be of the highest standard. All the godowns of the poor standard should immediately be upgraded by undertaking required repairs else the same should be considered for de-hiring.
