"A capacity of 271.97 lakh tonne has been sanctioned by NABARD and NCDC (National Cooperative Development Corporation) all over the country since the inception of the scheme (in 2001)," an official statement said here today.
It includes subsidy release of Rs 666.36 crore and total investment of Rs 5764.85 cr during the period, it said.
Acting on the recommendations of an expert committee, the government had in 2001 launched "Gramin Bhandaran Yojana" for construction/renovation of rural godowns in the country.
Objectives of the scheme included creation of scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas to meet requirements of farmers for storing farm produce and prevention of distress sale by creating the facility of pledge loan and marketing credit.
The project for construction of rural godowns can be taken up by individuals, farmers, group of farmers/growers, partnership, proprietary firms, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), companies, cooperatives, federations, Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees, Marketing Boards and Agro Processing Corporations.
Assistance for renovation of godowns is, however, restricted to godowns constructed by cooperatives only. The capacity of a godown is to be decided by entrepreneur.
However, subsidy under the scheme is restricted to a minimum capacity of 100 tonnes and maximum capacity of 10,000 tonnes.
Rural godowns of smaller sizes upto 50 tonnes capacity are also eligible for subsidy under the scheme as a special case based on viability analysis.
In hilly areas where the project site is located at a height of more than 1,000 meters above sea level, rural godowns of smaller sizes upto 25 tonnes capacity are also eligible for subsidy.
The scheme is being implemented by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Faridabad and its sub-offices through NABARD and NCDC.