Grain Bank

The concept of grain bank has developed traditionally. People have always had a habit of keeping aside a little grain everyday for use in times of distress. Among the Muslims, the practice of donating a fistful of grain to the Maulvi in the mosque so that his needs for food are met is still prevalent. Such personal practices are now sought to be extended to the community level so that food grain is available to the meet the sudden needs of the people in times of floods and other disasters. It has been named the Grain Bank concept. Rudrapur and Barhaj development blocks in Deoria district (UP) are home to a network of Ghaghra, Rapti, Gorra, Bathua and other rivers. In Rudrapur block, there are 52 villages between Rapti and Gorra, which are vulnerable to the ravages of floods every year. Here, Purva is a hamlet on the banks of the Gorra River. About 27 women of this village got together to give form to the concept of grain bank, and within one rabi season collected 432 kg of grain. That year, a massive fire broke out in the village, whereupon the women used the collected grain to organize a community kitchen for eight days for all the 52 families of the village. The relevance of the grain bank was forcefully driven home; and following this example, today there are eight grain banks existing in the area.

Setting up a grain bank
The grain bank should be located in the centre of the village for security reasons and on a higher elevation so that it is not affected by floods. However, it should be slightly away from grass huts that may be prone to catching fire in the summers. The grain bank may be made of bamboo or bricks. In the former, bamboo strips are so placed as to make an oval structure, which is thickly plastered with a mixture of mud and dung. Its roof is round and made from bamboo and straw. In the case of bricks and cement, the structure is 6-7 ft high, with 4 inch thick walls. So it is more solid and secure, even if more costly to construct. However, it roof-top too is of bamboo and straw. The only problem with such a top is that it does not provide any adequate protection against rats. It is important to prevent humidity, since the bank is frequently opened for grain distribution. To prevent humidity, the grain is topped by straw, it is turned over every three months and the grain bank structure is plastered with dung and mud mixture every season. In case of wheat, Neem leaves, onion, etc. are placed alongside to prevent pest infestation.

Normally, wheat and rice are stored in the grain bank. But other produces like maize, barley, etc. which are collectively grown by the community are also stored. After the harvest, in order to determine the contributory grain amount per family, the most economically weak member is taken as the base, e.g. if the said member is capable of saving or contributing 16-20 kg grain, then that becomes the standard for all other members as well, and the required quantity of grain is stored in the bank. It is compulsory for all members to contribute their share of grain for storage at the time determined. However, if any member has no grain to store, she can deposit an equivalent amount of money instead.

In normal times, if a member has no grain left at home, she is provided from the grain bank according to her family's consumption capacity which she must return at the next harvest along with one fourth grain interest. Members who do not grow adequate crops and buy food grains from the market, I can also buy from the grain bank at less than market price. During the disaster period, everyone is provided according to one's needs. At the end of the season, grain left over after distribution and internal sale, is sold in the market. From the money received, wheat or rice is purchased in the next season for the grain bank. However, as yet, this is seen as a constraint.

In 2009, 47 women from three groups in Chhapra Bujurg, collected 16 kg wheat each and stored it in the bakhari they had constructed and which they called the grain bank. A committee comprising 5 women was constituted to manage the grain bank. One woman extra from each of the three groups was nominated as additional member. The committee formulated rules and regulations for the conduct of the grain bank and duly maintained a register for its various activities and transactions.

According to Mr K.K.Singh Coordinator Sustainable Agriculture Network The capacity of the grain bank at 45 qtl is a limiting factor for the existing grain bank and the inter diversity of crops in the fields, too is seen by the people as a disadvantage in grain storage.



Jitendra Dwivedi/ Shraiyacee Mittal
Freelance Journalist
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