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. 120 DUE
FOR REPLY ON 13TH AUGUST, 2013.
(a) & (b): A statement indicating the per capita net availability of rice, wheat and
foodgrains since 2010 as compared to the normative requirement of consumption of 402
grams of foodgrains per day assessed by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, is given
below:
(Grams per day)
Year Rice Wheat Foodgrains
2010 182.0 168.2 437.1
2011 181.5 163.5 453.6
2012 (P) 190.1 158.1 449.9
P: Provisional
# Net availability = Gross production (-) seed, feed & wastage (-) exports (+)
imports, (+/-) change in stocks Source: Directorate of Economics & Statistics
(c) to (e): The major issues in regard to increasing the production & productivity of
foodgrains in the country include development of infrastructure in rainfed areas, challenges
of various biotic and abiotic stresses, improving access to improved technologies & other
critical inputs etc.
Government implements various programmes/schemes viz. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas
Yojana (RKVY), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution to
Eastern India (BGREI) etc. with the objective of increasing production and productivity of rice,
wheat and other crops. In addition, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and
State Agricultural Universities (SAU) have developed a number of improved varieties/hybrids
of foodgrain crops to enhance production and productivity of food crops.
Government has also taken steps for increasing investment, improving farm practices,
rural infrastructure and delivery of credit, technology and other inputs, extension, marketing
etc. to improve agricultural production and productivity. Other measures taken by the
Government include enhancement of minimum support prices of agricultural commodities,
increase in credit flow to agriculture sector, interest subvention on crop loans etc.
