The Food Corporation of India (FCI), a statutory corporation under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, was set up in Chennai on 14th January, 1965. It has the mandate to undertake purchase, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of food grains and other foodstuff in the country. With the first District Office opened in Thanjavur, the Corporation's offices have now spread all over the country with its Headquarters in New Delhi. There are regional offices in almost all the states and five zonal offices.
Since its inception, the FCI has played a significant role in the food security of the country. Its contribution to the nation goes back to 1968 when India introduced the Green Revolution to stop dependency of food on other countries and herald an era of self-sufficiency in food grains. The role of the FCI was to complement the Green Revolution by procuring the food grains produced by the farmers at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) as decided by the Government of India. The food grain procurement by the Corporation ensures that the farmers get remunerative prices for their produce and do not go for distress sale.
Presently, the main role of FCI is to implement the objectives of the National Food Policy of Government of India. Accordingly, it ensures effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers, distribution of foodgrains throughout the country for Public Distribution System, maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of foodgrains to ensure National Food Security, and intervening in the market for price stabilisation of foodgrains.
The Corporation has played a crucial role in implementing the various social welfare programmes of the government like the Antodaya Anna Yojana, Annapurna Yojana and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, besides ensuring food grain supplies to the Defence forces. It has also been involved in supply of food grains during natural calamities like the super cyclone in Orissa, the devastating earthquake in Gujarat, the Tsunami of2004 and the recent floods in Uttarakhand.
As the backbone of Public Distribution System in the country, FCI is prepared to play its role for the successful implementation of the recently enacted National Food Security Act. It has undertaken a massive augmentation programme of storage space under Private Entrepreneur Guarantee (PEG) Scheme to build around 20 million tonnes capacity in 19 States.
Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Food Corporation of India.
Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India