Lok Sabha Question No. 3466 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Eroding of Food Security
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA, SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3466 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  AUGUST, 2017 ERODING OF FOOD SECURITY

3466.   SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the food security situation in the country is eroding on account of  increasing  shortage  of  foodgrains  and  other  food  items  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) the details of production, procurement, demand and supply of foodgrains during the last three years;
- (c)  whether  the  private  companies  procure  foodgrains  directly  from  the farmers at prices higher than those fixed by the Government for procurement through its agencies and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the quantum of foodgrains procured by the said companies along with the rates at which the said procurement has been done during the said period, yearwise; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to provide food security to farmers in drought hit regions during the last two years and the outcome thereof?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a): There is no shortage of foodgrains to implement the food security in the country under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The stock of wheat and rice in the Central Pool as on 01.07.2017 is 53.32 million tons, against the buffer norms of 41.12 million tons to meet the demand of foodgrains for the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).

(b):  Foodgrains  are  procured  by  the  Government  from  farmers  at  Minimum Support Price (MSP), which is used for supply/ allocation to States/UTs for distribution under the PDS as per the coverage determined for each State/UT and per person/family foodgrain entitlement under the NFSA, and other food based schemes. Details of production and procurement of foodgrains (Wheat and Rice) and allocation to  States/UTs  under  PDS,  other  welfare  schemes, festivals, calamity relief etc. are as under.

(Figures in million tons)

| Crop Year   | Production                     |   Procurement |   Total allocation of foodgrains |
|-------------|--------------------------------|---------------|----------------------------------|
| 2014-15     | 192.01                         |         60.12 |                            61.45 |
| 2015-16     | 196.70                         |         57.18 |                            61.1  |
| 2016-17     | 206.59 (3rd advance estimates) |         69.55 |                            62.89 |

*  Procurement  of  wheat  as  on  20.07.2017  and  procurement  of  rice  as  on 02.08.2017.

Note:  Year-wise  total  procurement  includes  procurement  of  wheat  which relatesto Rabi Marketing Season (April-March) for the year following the crop year.

(c)&(d): The  Central  Government  extends  price  support  to  paddy  and wheat  through  the  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI)  and  State  Procurement Agencies.  All  the  foodgrains  conforming  to  the  prescribed  specifications offered  for  sale  at  specified  centers  are  bought  by  the  public  procurement agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The farmers however have the option to sell their produce to Government Agencies at MSP or in the open market as is advantageous to them. Information regarding private purchase of foodgrains is not maintained.

(e): Based on the request from the concerned State Government, additional allocation has been made to the drought affected States.

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