FCI uses Artificial Intelligence for Procurement: Minister replies to MP Arora  

Ludhiana, February 5, 2024: A sum of Rs.250.28 Crore has been released to the State Government of Punjab since 2017-18 onwards under the scheme “Assistance to State Agencies for Intra-State movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers' margin".

This has been stated by the Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in an answer to a question on Public Distribution System (PDS) asked by MP (Rajya Sabha) from Ludhiana Sanjeev Arora in the ongoing budget session of Rajya Sabha. Arora had asked about details of the subsidized food grains allocated under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 during the last three years as well as current. He had also asked about the details of funds released to Punjab towards expenditure incurred on intra-State transportation and Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers’ margin for distribution of foodgrains under various schemes such as NFSA, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). Besides, he had also asked about steps taken by the Government to utilize Artificial Intelligence for grain analysis.

In a statement here today, Arora said the Minister further mentioned in her reply that FCI introduced Artificial Intelligence based Automatic Grain Analyzers in the field of Quality Assessment and procurement of foodgrains. Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for foodgrains analysis helps in removing human intervention and also brings transparency in the procurement system. During Phase-I, 50 AI based Automated Grain Analyzers were installed at the rice procuring centers and recently 350 AI based Automated Grains Analyzers were installed at major procuring centers in 10 States of the country. Quality check during procurement of food grains is being done by these AI based Automated Grain Analyzers.

The Minister also made available the State/Union Territory-wise allocation details of the foodgrains (rice and wheat) during the last three years and current year. The statement shows that Punjab was allocated 8.70.12 thousand tons of food grains (rice and wheat) in FY 2020-21. A similar allocation of food grain was made in Punjab in FY 2021-22 and 2022-23. The allocation of 652.59 thousand tons of food grain has been done to Punjab in FY 2023-24 (up to December, 2023). All the States/UTs total allocation details of the foodgrains (rice and wheat) is as under: FY 2020-21 (54815.41 thousand tons); FY 2021-22 (54866.71 thousand tons); FY 2022-23 (55096.31 thousand tons); and FY 2023-24 (up to December 2023) 41501.68 thousand tons. Interestingly, the UTs of Chandigarh and Puducherry were not allocated even a single food grain during these years.