Lok Sabha Question No. 3602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-10
Subject: Impact of Covid-19 on Hunger and Malnutrition Campaign
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shankar Lalwani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3602

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH   AUGUST, 2021

## IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION CAMPAIGN

†3602: SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI

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

(a)  whether  the  campaign  for  eradicating  hunger  and  malnutrition  has  suffered  a setback due to COVID-19;

- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether COVID-19 has affected the food production and supply in the country to a great extent and if so the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a) to (b): During  the  pandemic,  Government  has  taken  various  measures  in order to ensure food and nutritional security in the country, the details of which are as follows;

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PMGKAY), it was decided by  the Govt.  to provide  additional allocation of  food-grain  (i.e.  Rice,  Wheat  or combination of both) @ 5 kg per person per month free of cost for all the beneficiaries covered under Targetted Public Distribution System (Antyodaya Anna Yojna & Priority Households) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for a period of 3 months i.e April-June, 2020 (PMGKAY-Phase-I). Later on, extension of PMGKAY was done for a further period of 5 months i.e. up to November 2020 (PMGKAY-Phase-II).

In view of the 2nd wave of Covid-19 Pandemic, Govt. of India decided to provide additional foodgrains, free of cost @ 5 Kg per person per month to all the beneficiaries covered  under  NFSA over  and  above  NFSA foodgrains for  two  months  i.e.  May  and June 2021 (PMGKAY-Phase-III). Further, the Govt of India has decided to continue the PMGKAY    Scheme till November, 2021 (PMGKAY-Phase-IV). In this Phase, additional allocation of food-grain of approx. 198.78 LMT has been made for distribution to approx. 80 Crore NFSA beneficiaries.

Also under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKAY), pulses were distributed for a period of three months- April to June, 2020 to ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor due to livelihood disruption caused by COVID-19. The Government of India further announced extension of PMGKAY beyond the initial period of April-June, 2020  until  the  end  of  November,  2020.  During  the  five  months'  period  (July  to November, 2020) 1 kg whole chana was provided free of cost to each family per month to beneficiaries already identified under the NFSA.

(c): No  Sir.  During  the  lockdown,  the  agriculture  sector  had  functioned  smoothly. Government of India has taken all necessary measures to ensure smooth operation of agriculture  related  activities.  Farming  and  allied  activities  were  exempted  from  the lockdown. Production of total food grains increased from 297.5 million tonnes in 201920  to  305.44  million  tonnes  in  2020-21  (As  per  third  Advance  Estimate).  Following steps were taken to ensure supply of food items during the pandemic;

- All  wholesale  mandis  were  closed  on  25.03.2020.    However,  more  than 2,067 markets were made functional to facilitate the farmers during Covid.
- Direct Marketing was facilitated ; Farmer Producer Organizations supplied vegetables in nearby cities and towns.
- 'KISAN  RATH APP' was launched in  April,  2020  to  facilitate  farmers  & traders in searching for transport vehicles for movement of agriculture & horticulture produce.
- 415 e-NAM mandis were made operational during the Covid period to take the total e-NAM mandis in the country to 1000.
- As far as paddy is concerned, in comparison to 2019-20 when there were 67127  procurement  centres,  in  2020-21  during  Covid  19  the  number  of procurement centres were increased to 74609.  Similarly, for wheat, the number of procurement centres increased from 14644 to 20163 during the Covid period.
- Kisan  Rails  were  operated  for  the  first  time  from  July,  2020  to  facilitate movement of perishable Agri-Horticulture commodities.

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