(a) whether the Government have a proposal to step up procurement of several foodgrains;
(b) if so, the details thereof, crop-wise to be increased;
(c) whether the State Government of Karnataka had requested the Union Government to
enhance the procurement of maize, jowar, ragi and paddy from that State; and
(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in that regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )
(a) & (b) : Under the present policy, Government procures foodgrains conforming to Fair
Average Quality(FAQ) specifications through FCI and State Government agencies under price
support operations. The farmers have the option to sell their produce to FCI/State agencies
at support prices, or in the open market, as is advantageous to them. No targets, as such
are fixed for the procurement of foodgrains.
(c) & (d) : Yes, Sir. During the current Kharif Marketing Season 2000-2001 (till 19.2.2001),
145498 tonnes of maize and 1003 tonnes of paddy have been procured by Food Corporation of
India as against nil procurement during the corresponding period last Kharif Marketing Season.
As regards Jowar and Ragi, the Government of Karnataka proposes to procure these coarse
grains under Decentralized Procurement Scheme.