(a) whether any review of the food management in the country has been
made in the wake of deficient monsoon during the current year;
(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
(c) whether the prevailing drought conditions in various States was
considered during the said review; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken to ensure
adequate availability of food stock in the country despite deficient monsoon
and drought situation?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a),(b),(c)&(d): Government has been closely monitoring the monsoon
situation in close co-ordination with the Central Ministries/Departments
concerned and the State Governments to ensure timely availability of basic
inputs like fertilizers, seeds, etc. Ministry of Agriculture has prepared
District Contingency Plans for 320 Districts. States have been advised to
prepare location specific alternatives based on these Plans in consultation
with respective State Agricultural Universities and arrange seeds of
alternate crops/varieties to implement such plans. Arrangement for adequate
availability of seeds has been made to meet the requirements of these
contingency plans.
A Diesel Subsidy Scheme to save the standing crops to mitigate the hardships
of farmers especially that of small and marginal farmers has also been approved.
A meeting of State Food Secretaries was called on 1.8.2012 to review the
procurement arrangements for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2012-13. As
per estimates given by Food Secretaries of various States, rice procurement
during KMS 2012-13 is estimated to be 401.31 lakh tonnes compared to the
estimate of 353.15 lakh tonnes for KMS 2011-12. Therefore, it appears that
procurement of rice for Central Pool is not likely to be affected from the
prevailing monsoon position. During KMS 2011-12, 347.40 lakh tonnes of rice
has already been procured upto 8.8.2012. In addition, a record quantity
of 381.48 lakh tonnes of wheat has been procured during Rabi Marketing
Season (RMS) 2012-13, compared to 283.35 lakh tonnes of wheat during RMS
2011-12. Due to record procurement of wheat and rice, Central Pool stock
position is comfortable and as on 1.8.2012, 285.03 lakh tonnes of rice
and 475.26 lakh tonnes of wheat was available in the Central Pool against
the buffer and strategic reserve norm(for 1st July, 2012) of 118 lakh
tonnes of rice and 201 lakh tonnes of wheat. Stocks available in Central
pool are more than sufficient to meet the requirement of Targeted Public
Distribution System (TPDS) and other schemes.