1.10.2. Rural Godown Scheme

♤ The scheme of Rural Godowns has been formulated for creation of scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas by encouraging private and cooperative sector to invest in the creation of storage infrastructure in the country. The eligible promoters for construction of rural godowns are individual farmers, group of farmers/ growers, partnership/ proprietary firms, NGO, companies, corporations, cooperatives, Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees, Marketing Boards and Agro Processing Corporations. Godowns built under the scheme should be structurally sound on account of engineering considerations and functionally suitable to store the agricultural produce. The general conditions for scientific construction will be as follows:

◦ The construction of godown should be as per Central Public Works Department/State Public Works Department specifications or any other standard specifications laid down in this behalf.

◦ The godown should be properly ventilated, should have well fitted doors, windows and ventilators and should be waterproof (control of moisture from floor, walls and roof etc.)

◦ The godown structure should have protection from rodents.

◦ The godown should have protection from birds (windows / ventilators with jali).

◦ The openings of godown such as doors, windows etc. should be designed in such a manner that the godown can be sealed for effective fumigation etc.

◦ The godown complex should have an easy approach road, pucca internal roads, proper drainage, arrangements for effective control against fire and theft and also have arrangements for easy loading and unloading of stocks.