Question : FOOD SECURITY

(a) whether the Government is aware of the rising food prices, inflation and problem of food security in the country;

(b) if so, whether the Government has chalked out any plan to tackle the above problem by increasing agricultural production and productivity;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to promote mixed cropping of crops and vegetables to ensure steady supply of food items to the market;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether there is any proposal to revise the National Horticulture Mission and the National Food Security Mission or to promote community participation and sustainable farming system to ensure food security in the country; and

(g) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI ARUN YADAV)

(a) to (c): Government is constantly monitoring the food prices in the country. Several measures have been taken including ensuring adequate availability of food items such as vegetables, moong, masoor, maize etc.. As a result, food inflation has come down from 13.07% (provisional) on 29.1.2011 to 11.05% during the week ended 5th February 2011.

For increasing productivity and production of foodgrain crops in the country, various Crop Development schemes and Programmes like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Integrated Scheme of Oilseed, Pulses, Maize and Oilpalm (ISOPOM), Integrated Cereals Development Programme for Rice/Wheat/Coarse Cereals under Macro Management of Agriculture and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) are being implemented by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation through State Governments.

In 2010-11, in addition to above mentioned schemes, two new programmes relating to bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India and integrated development of 60000 Pulses and Oilseeds Villages in rainfed areas have been initiated under RKVY. National Food Security Mission has been strengthened with the merger of pulses component of ISOPOM and inclusion of two new potential States of Assam and Jharkhand for Pulses production. A new programme Accelerated Pulses Production Programme (A3P) in the form of block demonstrations has been started to cover 1000 unit of 1000 hectare each of five pulses crops in 16 pulses growing States of the country. As per second advance estimate compare to previous year food grain production has significantly increase particularly for pulses and oilseed crops.

(d) & (e): Under National Horticulture Mission, intercropping of vegetables with fruits is being encouraged to increase per unit production and to ensure steady supply of vegetable to the consumers. Similarly, intercropping of pulses with pulses; pulses with cotton, sugarcane etc. is encouraged under Pulses component of National Food Security Mission.

(f) & (g): Under National Horticulture Mission, an initiative for establishing dedicated vegetable farm clusters around all state capitals and urban centers with population greater than 10 lakhs is under consideration. Under National Food Security Mission, Panchayati Raj Institutions are actively involved in selection of beneficiary and identification priority areas for the implementation of Mission interventions