The economic cost of food grains to the Food Corporation of India is Minimum Support Price and bonus (if any) paid to the farmers plus
Explanation
The correct answer is (C) procurement incidentals and distribution cost.
Here's a breakdown of the economic cost of food grains to the Food Corporation of India (FCI):
Minimum Support Price (MSP) and bonus (if any): This is the price paid by the FCI to farmers to procure food grains at a pre-determined level. It serves as a safety net for farmers and ensures some income stability.
Procurement incidentals: These are the additional costs incurred by the FCI during the procurement process. They include expenses like - Commission to agents or societies involved in procurement - Bagging materials - Labor charges for procurement activities - Transportation from collection centers to storage depots
Distribution cost: This refers to the expenses incurred by the FCI to distribute the procured food grains. It includes - Transportation costs from storage depots to fair price shops or other distribution channels - Handling and storage charges at fair price shops - Losses during storage and transportation
