Question : SHORTFALL IN SOWING OF FOOD CROPS

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a) & (b): No, Madam. As on 23-7-10, there has been a substantial increase in the area sown under rice, total coarse cereals, pulses during Kharif 2010 compared to area sown last year in the same corresponding period, as shown below:

Crop	Area sown (lakh ha.)	Absolute change over 2009
This year 2010	Last year 2009

Rice	169.71	157.67	+12.0

Total	141.42	132.39	+9.0
Coarse
cereals

Total	57.23	50.55	+6.7
Pulses

Total	368.36	340.61	+27.8
foodgrains

(c): In order to increase the production of food grains, the Government is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in selected districtsof 17 States for enhancing the food grain production of rice, wheat and pulses by 20 million tones during 11th Plan; Crop production programmes for rice, wheat and coarse cereals are being encouraged under Macro Management Agriculture (MMA) scheme. Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), additional Central assistance is provided to the States to achieve 4% growth in Agriculture and allied sectors and to reduce yield gaps of crops and maximizing returns to the farmers. New initiative of “Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India” in 6 eastern states is also focused towards enhancing agriculture production. Similarly, new initiative of “organizing 60,000 pulses and Oilseed villages” is being implemented in major pulses growing states to supplement the efforts of other schemes in enhancing the pulses production. Maize production is promoted through Integrated Scheme on Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize (ISOPOM).