Question : STOCK PILLING

(a) the steps taken by the Government to check stock piling of foodgrains to safeguard the interests of farmers;

(b) whether the Government propose to introduce `crop rotation` in the country; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)

(a) to (c): As a part of national policy, the Government has been emphasizing crop diversification, which includes appropriate crop rotation, keeping in view the soil health problems being encountered by growing exhaustive crops like cereals followed by cereals. This is intended to conserve the natural resources with sustainability in agriculture.

Besides above, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India have taken various measures to boost export of foodgrains from the Central Pool. These are:


(i) Quantitative Restrictions (QRs) on export of rice, wheat and wheat products have been removed subject to the condition that the stocks in the Central Pool would not be lower than 243 lakh MTs (143 lakh MTs of wheat and 100 lakh MTs of rice ) at any point of time.


(ii) There are no procedural restrictions like registration with APEDA in case of export of wheat, wheat products and non-basmati rice.


(iii) Exporters have been allowed to lift stocks from the depots of FCI according to their choice.


(iv) An empowered Standing Committee on Exports has been set up to take expeditious decisions on matters relating to export of foodgrains regularly.


(v) In order to offer a stable price regime, the Government has decided to fix the offer price of export of wheat and rice from the Central Pool for a period of 3 months, with an additional month given for lifting of stocks, and to announce the prices 45 days in advance before the commencement of the concerned quarter.


(vi) WTO compatible post-delivery expenses and other related expense are being allowed to the exporters.