Kaithal-Haryana (PTI): As part of the Centre's project of strengthening foodgrain storage and transportation system, diversified business entity Adani Group today flagged off the country's first bulk foodgrain rake from here to its field depot in Navi Mumbai.

It was flagged off by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) Chairman and Managing Director Alok Sinha here on Tuesday.

Describing this event as a historic day for foodgrain handling and its transportation, Sinha said: "All conventional storage methods had failed to prevent huge losses of food grain, but these modern facilities will reduce the wastage during storage and transit to bare minimum."

According to Sinha, the foodgrain loss during storage and transit is 0.38 per cent of total country's foodgrain production.

He said the objective of the project is to prevent wastage of foodgrain and to preserve its inherent nutritional content.

Bulk food rake is a part of foodgrain storage and transportation agreement, which Adani Group company Adani Agri Logistics Ltd and FCI have signed for a period of twenty years. FCI would be paying Rs 200 per quintal to company as rental for storing foodgrain.

Under this agreement, Adani Agri Logistics is to provide ultra modern storage and transportation facilities to this public sector giant.