<p>"The condition of the godowns in the country is not good and that is resulting in the rotting of foodgrains," he said, speaking at a function here.<br /><br />The government has acknowledged that the country wastes Rs 58,000 crore worth of food items every year due to lack of or poor storage facilities.<br /><br />Pawar admitted that the government (FCI) godowns were packed to capacity and the big question was how to accommodate the promised bumper rabi (winter) harvest.<br />The rabi crop has already begun arriving at the markets.<br /><br />Pawar's statement comes after repeated accusations from the Opposition over poor and unhygienic maintenance of wheat in Food Corporation of India godowns.<br /><br />"As the Food Minister of the country, my biggest concern is about the food stocks. TV channels have shown footage of how foodgrains are rotting in the godowns," he said.<br />"The godowns of FCI are 92 to 93 per cent full. Also, there is an expectation of a good produce this year. There will be now question on how to store the foodgrains," Pawar said, adding the government was "planning to hire godowns for seven years.<br /><br />Storage or no storage, the government will pay for the godowns for seven years," he added. <br /><br />Pawar also ruled out any relief for farmers with regard to loans, such as the Rs 60,000-crore loan waiver announced in 2008. "There will be no more loan waivers," he said.<br />He had earlier said that there was a need to tone up storage facilities by creating modern warehouses.</p>
<p>"The condition of the godowns in the country is not good and that is resulting in the rotting of foodgrains," he said, speaking at a function here.<br /><br />The government has acknowledged that the country wastes Rs 58,000 crore worth of food items every year due to lack of or poor storage facilities.<br /><br />Pawar admitted that the government (FCI) godowns were packed to capacity and the big question was how to accommodate the promised bumper rabi (winter) harvest.<br />The rabi crop has already begun arriving at the markets.<br /><br />Pawar's statement comes after repeated accusations from the Opposition over poor and unhygienic maintenance of wheat in Food Corporation of India godowns.<br /><br />"As the Food Minister of the country, my biggest concern is about the food stocks. TV channels have shown footage of how foodgrains are rotting in the godowns," he said.<br />"The godowns of FCI are 92 to 93 per cent full. Also, there is an expectation of a good produce this year. There will be now question on how to store the foodgrains," Pawar said, adding the government was "planning to hire godowns for seven years.<br /><br />Storage or no storage, the government will pay for the godowns for seven years," he added. <br /><br />Pawar also ruled out any relief for farmers with regard to loans, such as the Rs 60,000-crore loan waiver announced in 2008. "There will be no more loan waivers," he said.<br />He had earlier said that there was a need to tone up storage facilities by creating modern warehouses.</p>
