Question

Why does the government maintain a buffer stock of grains?

Answer 1

Hint:Buffer stock is referred to the stock of food grains that has been procured by the government agencies in order to supply them throughout the country when required.

Complete solution:
Big or rich farmers grow a large number of crops because of their access to better technology and other resources. The surplus that they get from their fields is more than required to consume by their family. So, this surplus produce is taken by the government to feed the needy ones. Food Corporation of India (FCI) is one of the Government agencies that buy grains from farmers on large scale and then store it in huge godowns. This procured collection is termed as buffer stock. It is created in order to distribute food grains in areas having a deficiency of basic nutrition and among poorer sections of the society during any pandemic or calamity, or whatever is the situation. These food grains are made available at an affordable price so that the needy can afford them without any constraint.

Note: The large scale storage of food grains is made possible by using gunny bags and grain silos.
The gunny bags are first filled with grains, their mouths are then tightly stitched and then they are placed in big godowns, one over another. Proper measures like spraying of pesticide solutions and rat poison from time to time are taken care of so that the food grains do not get spoiled by rats or pests. These gunny bags are easy to transport and thus the grains are distributed at various places.
Grain silos are another alternative for storing grains. These are big cylindrical structures with inbuilt arrangements for the protection of food grains from pests and microbes.