(a) whether procurement and stock of wheat have exceeded the estimates and the buffer norms due to record production in recent years;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the production, procurement, buffer norms and actual stock of wheat during the last three years and the current year; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to reformulate its export policy for wheat in view of surplus stock, if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) & (b): The procurement of wheat during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2015-16 and RMS 2014-15 was 280.88 Lakh MT & 280.23 Lakh MT respectively which has been marginally less than the estimates of 300 Lakh MT & 310.00 Lakh MT respectively.
The stock position of wheat in the recent years has always been more than the required buffer norms for wheat.
The production and procurement of wheat during last three years and current year is as under :
(Fig. in LMT)
RMS
Production
Procurement
2012-13
949.41
381.48
2013-14
935.06
250.92
2014-15
958.49
280.23
2015-16
889.37*
280.88
*As per 4th advance estimates of Ministry of Agriculture.
The stock position of wheat in the central pool vis-à-vis foodgrains stocking norms for the last three years is enclosed at Annexure.
(c): Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its decision dated 16.01.2015 approved that the stock of foodgrains in excess of the revised buffer norms might be offloaded through open sale in domestic market or through export. A committee was constituted consisting of Secretary, F&PD, Secretary, Expenditure and Secretary Consumer Affairs to recommend the quantity and the price for this purpose. However, at present, there is no such proposal for export of wheat or rice from Central Pool.
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ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3753 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 22.12.2015 IN THE LOK SABHA
The stock position of wheat in the central pool vis-à-vis foodgrains stocking norms is as under:-
Fig in LMT
1. Note 1: Revsied norms is w.e.f. 22.1.2015
2. Note 2: Foodgrains Stocking norms includes Strategic Reserve of 30 lakh tons of wheat
*****
AS ON
W H E A T
Actual stock
Foodgrains Stocking norms
1.4.2012
199.52
70
1.7.2012
498.08
201
1.10.2012
431.53
140
1.1.2013
343.83
112
1.4.2013
242.07
70
1.7.2013
423.97
201
1.10.2013
361.00
140
1.1.2014
280.47
112
1.4.2014
178.34
70
1.7.2014
398.01
201
1.10.2014
322.63
140
1.1.2015
251.13
138.00
1.4.2015
172.21
74.60
1.7.2015
386.80
275.80
1.10.2015
324.50
205.20