Food Corporation of India (FCI) is all set to use AnnadarpanSmart device to test the rice quality. The device would provide in depth and unbiased analysis of rice. Above all device would eliminate any manipulations done by officials and millers while they manually test the quality of rice.
Currently, launched in around 30 FCI storage centres for the quality analysis of rice. 13 devices launched in Punjab, 5 in Haryana, 4 in UP and Andhra Pradesh, 2 in Odisha and one each in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
AnnadarpanSmart Device
AnnadarpanSmart device, as the name suggests provides quality analysis of rice samples, based on its appearance. It is a computer based portable device which captures and examines the image using appropriate image processing device under controlled illumination conditions. The quality analysis is done in accordance with FCI standards. In addition, process includes online image capturing, analysis and report generation.
Nine Parameters for Testing Rice:
Full length grains, broken grains, admixture, chalky grains, red grains, damage/discoloured grains and foreign matter.
Advantages
AnnadarpanSmart is portable and the rice samples are evaluated rapidly. Therefore, easing the efficiency in process of bulk procurement of rice.
The device would ensure good quality grains are distributed under public distribution scheme for poor citizens of India.
It has crop specific software with user friendly graphical interface. Hence, operator need not be an expert and can be operated by beginners.
Provision for in depth statistical and comprehensive analysis. As a result, It provides facility for processing of test results for statistical analysis. It also facilitates the merging of test results for multiple samples to generate comprehensive report.
Customizable
The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) developed this device in 2018.
It would determine the quality of rice at 3 stages including procurement, storage and distribution. The estimated cost of this device is 2 lakh and its development period is 3 years.
Restructuring of FCI is not easy
The measures taken by the Modi government to reform FCI didn’t reap results yet. Earlier, Modi government brought reforms in PDS by digitisation of all the 23 crore ration cards and installed Point of sale(ePoS) machines to ensure the transparency of grain sale process. However, these measures didn’t serve the purpose as off take of food grains by the states hiked to 52.75 Million Tons in 2018-19 from 47.41 MT in 2013-14.
In 2015, the HLC recommended the FCI to hand over the procurement operations to states like AP, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, MP, Odisha and Punjab. These states have experience in this matter and have sound infrastructure for procurement. It also recommended the FCI to procure only the surplus grain from these sates.
It further recommended the FCI to move on to deficit states to help the farmers not receiving MSP on their harvest. However, it seems that these recommendations have not been adhered as FCI is operating at loss currently. The FCI should take immediate and strong measures to deal with these issues. In addition, piling debt of over 2.65 lakh crore is already putting FCI under stress.