The Centre has asked the states to initiate a process for managing the procurement of food grains. Replying to a short duration discussion on the problem of storage of food grains in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, the Minister of State for Food and Public Distribution, Prof. K V Thomas said the states have also been advised to have smaller and medium size godowns to storage purposes.

Sharing the concern of the members over the space shortage, Prof. Thomas said at present the covered storage capacity of the Food Corporation of India and state agencies together is 455 lakh tonnes. In this context, he assured that the construction of godowns, with an additional capacity of 151 lakh tonnes, will be completed by 2013.