MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER
AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH)
(a),(b)&(c): Under the existing policy, the Central Government extends price support to paddy
through the Government agencies (Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Agencies). Paddy
conforming to the prescribed specifications offered for sale at specified centres is bought by
the public procurement agencies. The farmers have the option to sell their paddy either to FCI/
State Agencies at Minimum Support Price, or to the private parties, as is advantageous to them,
and so there is no monopoly of the Government agencies over procurement of paddy directly from
farmers.
(d): Paddy is procured by Government Agencies directly from farmers or through Cooperative
Societies/Arthiyas. Paddy is not procured directly from private traders. Paddy procured by
Government Agencies (FCI & State agencies) during last three Kharif Marketing Seasons (KMS)
is as follows:
(in lakh tonnes)
Paddy procured 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 176.9 242.2 236.9
(e)&(f): The procurement of rice in the current KMS 2007-08 (as on 28.2.2008) is 200.3
lakh tonnes against the corresponding procurement of 192.5 lakh tones in KMS 2006-07. Rice
procurement is expected to be sufficient to manage the requirement of Targeted Public Distribution
Scheme and other Welfare Schemes in the current year.
(g): Does not arise.