(a) whether there is any proposal to review the current food policy in view of the lower than expected production and procurement of foodgrains including wheat;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the liberal food policy has been held responsible for the shortage of foodgrains in the country; and
(d) if so, the corrective steps being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH)
(a), (b), (c) & (d): As per the existing procurement policy the Government agencies (FCI and State Agencies) carry out Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations in all areas of the country having marketable surplus of foodgrains. The farmer is free to sell his produce to the Government agencies at MSP or to the private traders, as is advantageous to him.
The existing policy of procurement of foodgrains under MSP operations has been beneficial to farmers and has enabled them to obtain a remunerative price for their produce. To ensure that there is adequate procurement of foodgrains for the Central Pool to meet the buffer requirement and commitments under the TPDS and Welfare Schemes a proposal to purchase foodgrains at a rate higher than the MSP has been formulated in the Department of Food and Public Distribution.