Lok Sabha Question No. 296 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-16
Subject: Utilisation of Buffer Stock in view of Farmers Protests
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Gangasandra Siddappa Basavaraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtC  DTSTRIBUTTON DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTIO}I

## LOK SABHA STARRED OUESTIOI{  NO.296

## TO BE AI{SWERED ON t6th MARCH,2O2,l

## UTILISATION OF BUFFER STOCK IN VIEW OF FARMERS PROTESTS

## *296.  SHRI G.S. BASAVARAJ:

IYill the Minister of COI{SUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD At{D PUBLIC DtsTRlBUTloN sqatran arr&, ur<-r sil't  gr&rftfi,  Et{q t'+ be pteased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken serious note of the threat from the agitating farmerc unions that they will prolong the agitation till  the issues are resolved even if it  meant farming community sacrificing  one crop to contanue their agitation along the borderc of the I{ational Gapital;
- (b)  if so, whether the Govemment  is acquiesced to the situation where there wil! be no procuiement or addition to central food grain buffer stocks; and
- (c)  if so, the details  of the contingency  plans  of the Government to
- ensure optimum utilization of existing buffer stocks primarily for Public Distribution System and Social Welfare Schemes?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS,  GOMMERGE & INDUSTRY AND coNsuMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLTC DtSTRtBUTtOl{ (sHRr PTYUSH GOYAL)

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

STATEIUENT  REFERRED TO !N REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE STARRED OUESTION NO.  *296  DUE FOR ANSWER ON {6.03.202I  tN THE LOK SABHA.

- (a) to (c): Yes Sir. Government of  lndia (Gol) has engaged itsetf actively, constantly and consistently with the agitating farmerc unions and eleven rounds of negotiations were held between Government and agitating farmers unions to resolve the issues.

The procurement trend o, foodgrains is nomal and smooth. There has been no deficit in procurement  of foodgrain against stocking norms, in fact it is surplus. Despite alt difficulties associated  with GOVID  -  {9 pandemac, the Government went ahead in antedating ,f,iM's 2O2O-21 season which watnessed a massive surge in procuroment of paddy  that has reached to 677.59 LMT (as on 11.O3.2O2{) against the last yeay's corresponding  procurement of 593.52 LMT, which Is an increase of 14.160/0.  As on Ol .Ol .2021, lhe total stock of foodgrains (wheat and rice) is 529.59 LMT against the stocking norms of 214.',0 LllllT, indlcating surplus of 3{5.49 LMT. Following major steps were taken for smooth handling of procurement  operations.

- i) Apart from Agricultural Produce Market Gommittees  (APMG), larye number of additional temporary Paddy Purchase Centres (PPC) were operated at Silos, Depots  n Village and Gram Panchayat levels etc., by gow. agencies.
2. ii) Priority was given  to Small and Margiral Farmers in order to mltigate their problems.
3. iil) the Government of India announced Minimum Support Prlce (MSP)  at the beginning of the sowlng season of crops on the basis of the recommendations of the Gommission for Agricultural  Gosts and Prices (CACP). FGI and State Govt. Agencies procure  the foodgrains at MSP fixed by GOI.
4. iv) MSP (Minimum Support Price) operations were given wide publicityr through  print & electronic media.
- v) FarmerB were made aware of the quality specificatlons and purchase system ctc. to facilitate  the farmerc to bring their produce conforming to the specifications.

2t-

vi) Procurement  centres are opened by respective State Govt. Agencies/  FGI taking into account the production,  marketable surptus, convenience  of farmers and avallability  of other logistics / infrastructure such as storage and transportation  etc. Large number of temporary purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and depots/godowns are also established at key points for the convenience  of the farrnerc.

ln view of the steps taken by Gol, the procurement operations were handled smoothly resulting in increase in quantity procured and number of farmers benefited.

As per the stocking norms for the Gentral Pool, Operational  stock and Strategic Reserve are maintained  to  meet the operational requirement of foodgrains  and exigencies at any point of time. Foodgrains are drawn from Strategic reserve in case of crlsls such as abnormal shortfall  in production  of foodgrains in the country  or naturial calamity. Foodgrain stocking noms of the central pool, with effect from 22.01.2015 are as per below table:

(Figures in Lakh MT)

| As on       | Operational Stock   | Operational Stock   | Operational Stock   | Strategic Reserve   | Strategic Reserve   | Grand Total   |
|-------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------|
|             | Rice                | Wheat               | Total               | Rice                | Wheat               |               |
| {st April   | { t 5.80            | 44.60               | {60.40              | 20.00               | 30.00               | 210.40        |
| lst July    | r { 5.40            | 245.AO              | 361.20              | 20.00               | 30.oo               | 411.20        |
| {st October | 82.50               | 175.20              | 257.70              | 20.00               | 30.00               | 307.70        |
| lst January | 56.10               | { 08.00             | t 64.10             | 20.00               | 30.00               | 214.10        |

Stock position  of wheat and rice in central pool against the stocking norms is enclosed as Annexure - 1.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED TO lN REPLY To PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO.  *296  DUE FOR ANSWER ON {6.03.202{ IN THE LOK SABHA.

## STOCK POSIT]ON OF WHEAT AND RICE IN THE CENTRAL POOL VlS A VIS FoODGRAINS ING NORMS

(  in lakh MT)

| AS ON       | WHEAT                     | WHEAT        | RICE                      | RICE         | TOTAL                    | TOTAL        | Surplus   |
|-------------|---------------------------|--------------|---------------------------|--------------|--------------------------|--------------|-----------|
| AS ON       | Foodgrain Stocking nofrnS | Actual stock | Foodgrain Stocking notrnS | Actual stock | Foodgraan Stocking nolms | Actual stock | Stock     |
| 1.01,20{9   | t38.CtO                   | 271.21       | 76.10                     | 142.91       | 214.10                   | 454.12       | 240.O2    |
| 1.04.2019   | 74.6r0                    | 169.92       | { 35.80                   | 293.94       | 210.40                   | 463.86       | 253.46    |
| 1.O7.2019   | 275.8i0                   | 458.3{       | 135.40                    | 284.21       | 411.20                   | 742.52       | 331.32    |
| ,t,t 0.20{9 | 205,20                    | 393.{6       | {02.50                    | 249,16       | 307.70                   | 642.32       | 334,62    |
| 1.O1.2020   | 138.00                    | 327.96       | 76.10                     | 237,15       | 214.10                   | s6s.{ {      | 35r.0{    |
| 1.04.2020   | 74.60                     | 247.OO       | 135.80                    | 322.39       | 210.40                   | 569.39       | 358,99    |
| 1.O7.2020   | 275.4O                    | 549.91       | 135.40                    | 271.71       | 411.20                   | a21.62       | 4'to.42   |
| 1.10.2020   | 2tJ5.20                   | 43734        | t02.s0                    | 192.61       | 307.70                   | 629.99       | 322.29    |
| 1.O1.2021   | ,t38.00                   | 342.90       | 76.{ O                    | { 86.69      | 214.10                   | 529.59       | 3t5.49    |