Khagaria: Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, inaugurated a newly constructed, state-of-the-art grain silo in Khagaria district on Monday, describing it as a significant step in improving food security and modernising agricultural infrastructure.
The steel-based silo warehouse, with a total storage capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes, is fully mechanised and designed to optimise space while significantly reducing post-harvest losses. Joshi praised the project’s timely completion and highlighted the advantages of such facilities, stating that they offer safer, more efficient grain storage compared to traditional godowns.
“These silos are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-term vision for food security and agricultural reform,” Joshi said, addressing a public gathering at the inauguration. “With the use of ultra-modern technology, the safety of stored grains increases manifold, and storage losses are minimised.” The Minister noted that the idea of mechanised silos was first proposed by the Prime Minister in 2014, reflecting the government’s focus on agricultural efficiency and self-reliance.
Citing a recent World Bank report, Pralhad Joshi claimed that extreme poverty in India has dropped from 27% to around 5% over the past decade under Modi’s leadership. He credited government welfare initiatives, such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, under which nearly 80 crore people receive free food grains, and the PM-Kisan scheme, which has transferred Rs 3.8 lakh crore directly into farmers’ accounts. “The figure of 80 crore beneficiaries is more than the total population of many European nations combined,” he added.
