Lok Sabha Question No. 363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Foodgrains and Buffer Stocks
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.363

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 15 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## FOODGRAINS AND BUFFER STOCKS

## 363. SHRII JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  true  that  in  spite  of  COVID-19,  the  growth  of  agriculture  and  allied activities has gone up, particularly between March, 2020, and August, 2020;
- (b) if so, the details of growth of agriculture and allied activities during the last six months, month-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  going  to  capitalize  this  and  push  it  further  and  whether there is any impact on agricultural exports;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of foodgrains stocks and buffer stocks in the country, State and commoditywise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): As  per  the  estimates  of  National  Income  released  by  Central  Statistics  Office (CSO),  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI),  the  growth  rate  of Gross Value Added (GVA) of agriculture & allied sectors for Quarter 4 of  2019-20 (JanuaryMarch) and Quarter I of 2020-21 ( April - June) at constant (2011-12 ) prices are detailed below:

(in %)

| Year/ Quarter                    |   Growth rate of GVA of Agriculture & allied sectors at constant (2011-12) prices |
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Q4 (January to March) of 2019-20 |                                                                               5.9 |
| Q4 (April - June) 2020-21        |                                                                               3.4 |

Source: CSO , MoSPI

(c) & (d): As per the fourth advance estimates, total production of foodgrains was 296.65 million tonnes in 2019-20 as compared to  285.21  million tonnes during the agriculture year 2018-19 (final estimates).

Government of India is committed for the development of the agriculture sector and Ministry of Agriculture implements various schemes to increase production and productivity. Kharif sowing has also been high compared to last year because of the various steps taken by the Government of India. The Government had made efforts in procurement operations to facilitate  the  farmers  in  marketing  the  agriculture  produce  with  better  returns.  This  has facilitated  the  farmers  for  better  investment  in  next  crop  production.  The  Government  had purchased 203.68 lakh metric tonnes of Wheat, 83.08 lakh metric tonnes of Rice and 6.22 lakh metric tonnes of Pulses and Oilseeds during 2019-20. During the Rabi marketing season 2020-21, 342.60 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have been so far been procured. During COVID19 pandemic, the Government paid special attention on procurement of Rabi crops, which has largely benefitted the farmers.

The  trade  policy  has  been  amended  from  time  to  time  for  various  agricultural commodities in response to domestic availability and price situation.  As per the latest data available, during March-July 2020, value of exports of wheat has increased by about 9% over the  same period last year,  while  exports  of  rice,  spices  and  other major  commodities  have shown a downward trend.

A 'Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for phytosanitary inspection and certification activities in wake of COVID-19 situation' was prepared and circulated to facilitate the export and import of agricultural commodities. To promote the agricultural export, another NSPM 23 (Guidelines for Phytosanitary Service Agency  and  Phytosanitary  Service  Provider  for Inspection of Plants/ Plant Products & other Regulated Articles in Export) on outsourcing of inspection were finalized in June 2020.

(e): Government maintains foodgrains stocking norms (buffer stock) of rice and wheat for the Central Pool. The Actual stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool as against the foodgrains stocking norms for Central Pool are as under-

( in lakh  tons)

| AS ON     | WHEAT        | WHEAT                       | R I C E      | R I C E                    | T O T A L    | T O T A L                  |
|-----------|--------------|-----------------------------|--------------|----------------------------|--------------|----------------------------|
|           | Actual stock | Food- grains Stocking norms | Actual stock | Food-grains Stocking norms | Actual stock | Food-grains Stocking norms |
| 1.10.2019 | 393.16       | 205.20                      | 249.16       | 102.50                     | 642.32       | 307.70                     |
| 1.01.2020 | 327.96       | 138.00                      | 237.15       | 76.10                      | 565.11       | 214.10                     |
| 1.04.2020 | 247.00       | 74.60                       | 322.39       | 135.80                     | 569.39       | 210.40                     |
| 1.07.2020 | 549.91       | 275.80                      | 271.71       | 135.40                     | 821.62       | 411.20                     |

Source: Department of Food and Public Distribution

These  norms  are  maintained  for  the  Central  Pool  without  any  State-wise  bifurcation.  No allocation  towards  'buffer  stock'  is  made  to  any  of  the  States.  However,  in  order  to  ensure smooth supply of foodgrains, stocks are moved from surplus State to deficient States. The current stock position (State-wise) as on 01.09.2020 is at Annexure-I .

Apart from  this,  balance  stock  of  pulses  procured  under  Price  Support  Scheme  (PSS)  and under Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) as on 10.09.2020 is at Annexure-II .

## Annexure referred in reply to part ( e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 363 due for answer on 15.9.2020 TOTAL STOCKS OF FOODGRAINS IN CENTRAL POOL AS ON 01.09.2020

(Figs. In Lac MT)

| State / Zone            | STOCK WITH FCI   | STOCK WITH FCI   | STOCK WITH FCI   | STOCK WITH STATE AGENCIES   | STOCK WITH STATE AGENCIES   | STOCK WITH STATE AGENCIES   | TOTAL CENTRAL POOL STOCK   | TOTAL CENTRAL POOL STOCK   | TOTAL CENTRAL POOL STOCK   |
|-------------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| State / Zone            | RICE             | WHEAT            | TOTAL            | RICE                        | WHEAT                       | TOTAL                       | RICE                       | WHEAT                      | TOTAL                      |
| 1                       | 2                | 3                | 4                | 5                           | 6                           | 7                           | 8                          | 9                          | 10                         |
| Bihar                   | 3.81             | 3.92             | 7.73             | 2.37                        | 0.02                        | 2.39                        | 6.18                       | 3.94                       | 10.12                      |
| Jharkhand               | 2.72             | 0.23             | 2.95             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 2.72                       | 0.23                       | 2.95                       |
| Odisha                  | 2.25             | 1.55             | 3.80             | 6.81                        | 0.00                        | 6.81                        | 9.06                       | 1.55                       | 10.61                      |
| West Bengal             | 0.96             | 4.02             | 4.98             | 3.46                        | 0.00                        | 3.46                        | 4.42                       | 4.02                       | 8.44                       |
| East Zonal Total        | 9.74             | 9.72             | 19.46            | 12.64                       | 0.02                        | 12.66                       | 22.38                      | 9.74                       | 32.12                      |
| Assam                   | 3.21             | 0.12             | 3.33             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 3.21                       | 0.12                       | 3.33                       |
| Arunachal Pradesh       | 0.17             | 0.00             | 0.17             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.17                       | 0.00                       | 0.17                       |
| Tripura                 | 0.26             | 0.04             | 0.30             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.26                       | 0.04                       | 0.30                       |
| Mizoram                 | 0.21             | 0.01             | 0.22             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.21                       | 0.01                       | 0.22                       |
| Meghalaya               | 0.17             | 0.01             | 0.18             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.17                       | 0.01                       | 0.18                       |
| Manipur                 | 0.43             | 0.00             | 0.43             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.43                       | 0.00                       | 0.43                       |
| Nagaland                | 0.37             | 0.00             | 0.37             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.37                       | 0.00                       | 0.37                       |
| North East Zonal Total  | 4.82             | 0.18             | 5.00             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 4.82                       | 0.18                       | 5.00                       |
| Delhi                   | 0.46             | 2.20             | 2.66             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.46                       | 2.20                       | 2.66                       |
| Haryana                 | 16.18            | 40.23            | 56.41            | 0.00                        | 61.05                       | 61.05                       | 16.18                      | 101.28                     | 117.46                     |
| Himachal Pradesh        | 0.25             | 0.46             | 0.71             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.25                       | 0.46                       | 0.71                       |
| J&K                     | 1.40             | 0.57             | 1.97             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 1.40                       | 0.57                       | 1.97                       |
| Punjab                  | 75.03            | 26.32            | 101.35           | 0.00                        | 133.18                      | 133.18                      | 75.03                      | 159.50                     | 234.53                     |
| Rajasthan               | 0.22             | 16.29            | 16.51            | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.22                       | 16.29                      | 16.51                      |
| Uttar Pradesh           | 10.80            | 24.36            | 35.16            | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 10.80                      | 24.36                      | 35.16                      |
| Uttrakhand              | 0.86             | 0.44             | 1.30             | 0.36                        | 0.03                        | 0.39                        | 1.22                       | 0.47                       | 1.69                       |
| North Zonal Total       | 105.20           | 110.87           | 216.07           | 0.36                        | 194.26                      | 194.62                      | 105.56                     | 305.13                     | 410.69                     |
| Andhra Pradesh          | 7.27             | 0.15             | 7.42             | 16.96                       | 0.00                        | 16.96                       | 24.23                      | 0.15                       | 24.38                      |
| Karnataka               | 7.32             | 0.38             | 7.70             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 7.32                       | 0.38                       | 7.70                       |
| Kerala                  | 3.42             | 0.55             | 3.97             | 0.35                        | 0.00                        | 0.35                        | 3.77                       | 0.55                       | 4.32                       |
| Tamil Nadu              | 11.81            | 0.53             | 12.34            | 0.33                        | 0.00                        | 0.33                        | 12.14                      | 0.53                       | 12.67                      |
| Telangana               | 6.28             | 0.08             | 6.36             | 5.29                        | 0.00                        | 5.29                        | 11.57                      | 0.08                       | 11.65                      |
| South Zonal Total       | 36.10            | 1.69             | 37.79            | 22.93                       | 0.00                        | 22.93                       | 59.03                      | 1.69                       | 60.72                      |
| Gujarat                 | 0.73             | 5.17             | 5.90             | 0.09                        | 0.77                        | 0.86                        | 0.82                       | 5.94                       | 6.76                       |
| Maharashtra             | 5.52             | 10.17            | 15.69            | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 5.52                       | 10.17                      | 15.69                      |
| Madhya Pradesh          | 0.26             | 3.14             | 3.40             | 3.84                        | 138.44                      | 142.28                      | 4.10                       | 141.58                     | 145.68                     |
| Chhattisgarh            | 7.72             | 0.21             | 7.93             | 6.68                        | 0.00                        | 6.68                        | 14.40                      | 0.21                       | 14.61                      |
| West Zonal Total        | 14.23            | 18.69            | 32.92            | 10.61                       | 139.21                      | 149.82                      | 24.84                      | 157.90                     | 182.74                     |
| Total                   | 170.09           | 141.15           | 311.24           | 46.54                       | 333.49                      | 380.03                      | 216.63                     | 474.64                     | 691.27                     |
| *Wheat lying in mandies | 0.00             | 0.00             | 0.00             | 0.00                        | 0.20                        | 0.20                        | 0.00                       | 0.20                       | 0.20                       |
| Stock in Transit        | 5.32             | 3.48             | 8.80             | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 5.32                       | 3.48                       | 8.80                       |
| Total (All India)       | 175.41           | 144.63           | 320.04           | 46.54                       | 333.69                      | 380.23                      | 221.95                     | 478.32                     | 700.27                     |

Balance stock of pulses procured under Price Support Scheme (PSS) and under Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) as on 10.09.2020

(Qty in MT)

| Commodity   | PSS       | PSF      | PSS + PSF   | Presecribed buffer stock position   |
|-------------|-----------|----------|-------------|-------------------------------------|
| Moong       | 97,903    | 1,10,896 | 2,08,799    | 1,00,000                            |
| Urad        | 1,25,809  | 1,88,577 | 3,14,386    | 4,00,000                            |
| Toor        | 3,45,029  | 4,69,428 | 8,14,457    | 10,00,000                           |
| Gram *      | 16,94,436 | 94,666   | 17,89,102   | 3,00,000                            |
| Masoor      | 2,983     | 26,559   | 29,541      | 1,50,000                            |
| Pulses      | 22,66,160 | 8,90,126 | 31,56,286   | 19,50,000                           |

Source: Cooperation Division, DAC&FW and Department of Consumer Affairs * Excluding 12.06 LMT of PSS Gram stock is reserved for supply under PMGKAY

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