Lok Sabha Question No. 4052 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Procurement of Wheat
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4052

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2018

## PROCUREMENT OF WHEAT

## 4052.   SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

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 Union Government has consulted the State Governments on the issues of procurement and storage of wheat, condition of international market as well as the countries' import and export of wheat;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the farmers are likely to face difficulty in getting fair price for their wheat with the import of wheat in domestic market; and
- (d) whether the Government is likely to formulate any effective policy to discourage import of wheat in view of the adequate stock of wheat in the country?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a)  &  (b):  Before  the  onset  of  procurement  season  for  wheat  i.e.  Rabi Marketing  Season  (RMS)  2018-19,  a  meeting  on  15.02.2018  with    Food Secretaries of the States  was convened at the level of Ministry to decide the estimates of wheat procurement, storage facility and other issues. Based on production,  expected  procurement,  marketable  surplus  in  the  catchment area, convenience of farmers and availability of other logistics / infrastructure  such  as  storage,  and  transportation  etc.,  the  estimate  of wheat  procurement  and  number  of  procurement  centres  to  be  opened  are decided  mutually  by  various  State  Governments/its  procurement  agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI). Large numbers of temporary purchase centres are also established for the convenience of the farmers.

Union  Government  reviews  the  storage  requirement  of  states  in consultation with State Government periodically

(c): There  exists  a  transparent  and  Uniform  Policy  for  procurement  by Government Agencies across the country. Under this policy, whatever wheat is  offered  by  farmers  within  the  stipulated  period,  conforming  to  the specifications prescribed by Government of India, is purchased at Minimum Support Price (MSP) by the Government Agencies including FCI, for Central Pool.

(d): There has been no import of wheat for Central Pool since 2008-09. The import of wheat is regulated through change of import duty from time to time.  At  present  issues  regarding  change  of  import  duty  on  agricultural commodities are discussed in the Inter Ministerial Committee to review the price of agricultural commodities and based on their recommendations the proposals are moved by the concerned Department. In 2017, Import duty has been  imposed  @10%  w.e.f.  28.03.2017  and  then  raised  to  20%  w.e.f. 08.11.2017 on the proposal initiated by Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.

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