Cover and Plinth in India

What is CAP (Cover and Plinth)?

The issue we read in the newspapers about the food grains rotting is on the CAP or Cover & Plinth. Cover & Plinth refers to the Outdoor stacks of bagged grain, which is covered with some waterproof material. India adopts cover and plinth (CAP) as standardized system. The CAP storage was born of necessity, because harvests increased faster than storage capacity over the period of time. The following

Its worth note that during the years i.e 2005-06 to 2008-09 , the stocks were low and FCI rented out the excess capacity to optimize the utilisation of owned capacity. But now, when the stocks are high, the capacity gets short. An statement in the parliament was made that efforts are being made to utilize capacity upto 120% by increasing the height of stacks. Food Corporation of India has also hired godowns at places where it has its own capacity to accommodate procured stocks but is insufficient to accommodate the stocks or there are operational constraints, in the procuring regions.

The above table makes it clear that rice has not been stored in CAP.

The Minister also clarified the issue of damaged grains. The quantity of wheat stocks damaged (non issuable) in CAP storage during the last three years are as under:-

The above quantities are in metric tonnes. These are government figures, however, the unofficial figures are higher.