The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has seen tremendous growth in the last 100 days of the current government. DFPD has also achieved great achievements in its four focus sectors. Digitalization of operations, modernization of storage and logistics, transforming fair price shops (FPS), and strengthening institutions under the department. DFPD has saved Rs 112 crore by improving the Public Distribution System (PDS) supply chain routes in 13 states using the PM Gati Shakti platform.

Target to increase debt finance to Rs 1.5 lakh crore
DFPD said that the shortest motorable routes between food storage depots and FPS will be linked with PM Gati Shakti Distance API. For this, an intra-state route optimization tool will be used. The department aims to increase debt finance to Rs 1.5 lakh crore under its credit guarantee scheme. 

50,000 fair-price shops will be converted into Jan Poshan Kendras I

n a press conference, department officials said that the launch of Jan Poshan Kendra (JPK) transforms FPS into hubs offering nutrition-dense items at competitive prices. A pilot program was launched in 60 FPS in several places including Ghaziabad, Jaipur, and Hyderabad in August 2024. In the next five years, the government plans to convert 50,000 fair-price shops across the country into Jan Poshan Kendras. 

Mera Ration 2.0 app has more than 1 crore users 

DFPD also said that it had also launched the Mera Ration 2.0 mobile app in August 2024, which has made it easier for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) beneficiaries to get the necessary information. Mera Ration 2.0 app has been downloaded more than 1 crore times. This clearly shows that success is being achieved in making PDS more and more user-centric. DFPD is making new plans to increase its storage capacity. In this, silos with a total capacity of 21.75LMT are now operational and work is in progress for an additional 7.5LMT. These silos have been designed to utilize the facilities of railway sidings for bulk movement of food grains and reduce logistics costs. In its first phase, the department has awarded tenders for 34.8LMT storage capacity to increase storage to 111.125LMT under the hub and spoke model. The scheme is expected to increase the current pledge finance from Rs 3,962 crore to Rs 1.05 lakh crore in the next 10 years. This will enable farmers and traders to get loans based on stored produce easily. 

The government procured 12.49LMT in 2023-24

 On the purchase front, the government said that it has achieved a great achievement in coarse grains (millet). The government has procured 12.49LMT during the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24. This is 170% more than last year and the highest purchase in the previous decade. Under Environmental and Energy Goals, DFPD said that it has increased the country's ethanol production capacity to 1,623 crore liters, which is more than its 100-day target. 

Quality Management System (QMS) Portal Launch 

Apart from this, DFPD has launched a new Quality Management System (QMS) portal to collect real-time laboratory test data from quality control laboratories. This digital initiative works from sample collection to test results. This facilitates food quality assessment. Along with this, video surveillance system is also being installed in FCI depots to improve godown management and protect the supply chain.