Wedoany.com Report-Jul. 2, India and China are expanding their grain storage capacities to improve food security and enhance self-sufficiency. With populations exceeding 1.4 billion each, both countries are focusing on minimizing post-harvest losses and modernizing storage infrastructure.

According to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, India is projected to achieve record production in wheat and corn in the 2025-26 marketing year, with rice output stabilizing after nine years of growth. China is also expected to see increases in domestic production, with corn up by 1.7%, wheat by 1.5%, and rice by 0.5%.

However, increased production brings storage challenges. India faces a storage shortfall of nearly 50%, with losses estimated at up to 25% of the harvested crop due to inadequate facilities. China experiences annual post-harvest losses between 289 and 368 million tonnes, averaging a 14% loss rate.

Both nations are investing heavily in upgrading storage systems. India has committed $15 billion to construct an additional 70 million tonnes of storage over five years, including modern steel silos. Rajan Aggarwal, Vice President of AGI India, stated: “Minimizing post-harvest and storage losses can help ease the pressure to produce more.”

Most of India's grain is stored in traditional warehouses, which are vulnerable to spoilage from pests and humidity. The country currently has about 3 million tonnes of modern steel silo capacity, but demand is growing. Aggarwal said: “The preference for steel silos is gaining momentum.” He noted that efficient storage reduces losses and supports better management of public distribution and food reserves.

India’s Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) program, launched in 2014, provides subsidies to farmers and cooperatives for building storage. As of October 2024, over 48,000 storage projects had been approved. The government is also working with the World Food Programme to deploy mobile storage units and smart warehouses in remote areas.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is expanding bulk storage through public-private partnerships. It manages 41 million tonnes of storage and is developing an additional 4.1 million tonnes in steel silos. Recent projects have been completed in several states, including Bihar, Punjab, and Gujarat.

In China, grain storage capacity reached 700 million tonnes by the end of 2023, a 36% increase from 2014. New technologies, including automated monitoring systems, have helped reduce average storage loss rates to below 1.2%. Policies focus on improving yield and maintaining strategic reserves, while limiting grain imports.

AGI has established manufacturing facilities in India to meet growing demand, including a plant in Bangalore and a new site near Hosur, Tamil Nadu, set to open by late 2026. “We are working hard to spread awareness about the values and benefits of scientific storage,” Aggarwal said.

Improved storage infrastructure is expected to reduce spoilage, stabilize prices, and potentially increase grain availability for export, depending on future policy decisions.