Lost in Transit
FCI lost 56,000 tn food grain in transit Apr-Jan, net storage gains 1,000 tn
This story was originally published at 12:58 IST on 27 February 2026
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NEW DELHI – The Food Corp. of India lost 56,000 tonnes of food grains in transit during Apr-Jan, data from the government agency showed. This accounts for 0.17% of the 33.93 million tonnes of food grains, such as rice and wheat, transported across the country during the 10-month period, largely from surplus to deficit regions.
Transit losses for Apr-Jan are in line with the corporation's target of limiting such losses to 0.17% of the transported grains in 2025-26 (Apr-Mar). Transit losses, according to FCI, arise due to multiple handling, spillage, theft en route, poor railway infrastructure, and fluctuations in temperature and moisture during transportation.
In FY25, FCI lost 73,000 tonnes, or 0.17% of the 42.4 million tonnes of food grains, during transportation. Over the last few decades, transit losses have declined due to improvements in handling and monitoring, from 1.7% in 1990 to 0.3% in 2015.
During Apr-Jan, FCI reported net storage gains of 1,000 tonnes, after accounting for both storage losses and gains. The net gain was 0.001% of the 65.66 million tonnes of foodgrain the corporation received for storage. FCI has set a target of achieving 47,000 tonnes of storage gains while carrying wheat and aims to limit storage losses for rice to 10,000 tonnes in FY26.
Storage gains typically occur due to weight gain in grains such as wheat, which is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture. However, rice tends to lose moisture during storage, resulting in net weight loss, according to FCI. In FY25, the corporation recorded net storage gains of 66,000 tonnes, or 0.08% of the 80.5 million tonnes of food grains received. End
Reported by Afra Abubacker
Edited by Tanima Banerjee
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