New Delhi, Nov. 26 -- India has emerged as the world's second-largest producer of agricultural commodities-after China. Food grain output touched a record 357.73 million tonnes in 2024-25, according to the agriculture ministry. Yet, India's storage expansion has not kept pace with grain production. Mint explains the country's grain storage conundrum.

The total food grain storage capacity in India-in both the public and private sectors-is about 87 million metric tonnes, with facilities concentrated primarily in the north and west.

India uses two types of food grain storage systems: covered storage such as traditional godowns and modern silos and open storage, known as covered and plinth (CAP). While most grains are stored in covered faci...