Question : FOODGRAINS PRODUCTION IN THE ELEVENTH PLAN

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)


(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 242 DUE FOR REPLY ON 17TH MARCH, 2008.

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Table below presents the projected demand and estimated production based on the growth rate as observed in the past and the new initiatives taken by the Government:

Foodgrains	(Million Tonnes)
Year	Projected Demand	Projected Production
2007-08	214.02	219.32@
2011-12	234.26	230.01#
@	Estimated.
#	Takes into account the targets of the National Food Security Mission.

The production of foodgrains during 2007-08 is estimated at 219.32 million tonnes (as per 2nd advance estimates released on 7th February 2008) and the availability of foodgrains for the year 2007-08 will be more than the demand by about five million tonnes. It is expected that except for pulses the country would remain self-sufficient in foodgrains during the 11th Plan period.

(c) to (e): In order to increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme `National Food Security Mission` (NFSM) has been launched in the country from Rabi 2007-08. It aims at adding the production of rice by 10 million tonnes, wheat by 8 million tonnes and pulses by 2 million tonnes by the end of the Eleventh Plan, i.e., by 2011-12 through area increase and productivity enhancement in targeted districts. Besides, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with an objective to incentivise the States to increase public investment in agricultural and allied sector has been launched. The RKVY aims at achieving 4% annual growth in the agriculture sector during the Eleventh Five Year Plan by ensuring a holistic development of agriculture and allied sector.