Lok Sabha Question No. 3634 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-22
Subject: Lower Stock of Wheat and Rice
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Deepak (Dev) Adhikari

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3634

## LOWER STOCK OF WHEAT AND RICE

## 3634. SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK (DEV):

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

- (a) whether it is true that FCI records show lower stock of wheat and rice in the central pool in first two months in 2023 as compared to 2022;
- (b) if so, the reasons for depletion in the stocks; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure enough buffer?

ANSWE R MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a) : The actual stock of wheat and rice in Central Pool are as given below:

In Lakh Tons) (Figs:

| AS ON    | 2022    | 2022   | 2023   | 2023   |
|----------|---------|--------|--------|--------|
|          | Wheat   | Rice   | Wheat  | Rice   |
| January  | 330.12  | 221.54 |        |        |
| February | 282.73L | 26336  | 154.44 | 169.63 |

- (b): During RMS 2022-23, the estimated wheat production was on lower side due to early summer. Also, there was a rise in global prices of wheat due to various geo-political reasons. Wheat farmers across the country benefitted from the higher market rates as majority of farmers sold their produce to the private traders at higher market rate in comparison to the MSP \_ Accordingly, the farmers could reap higher realisation for their produce which is the main objective of the policy of Govt: of India towards farmers'$ welfare.

Also to ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor due to economic disruption caused by COVID-19 Pandemic and to minimize the impacts of the Covid-19  pandemic on food security, Government in March 2020 had announced the distribution of additional free-of-cost foodgrains (RicelWheat) under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) to about 80 Crore beneficiaries. Phase VII of the PMGKAY was in operation up to 31.12.2022. A total quantity of approx: 1118 LMT foodgrains had been allocated under PMGKAY (Phase I-VII) during the period April, 2020 to December, 2022.

- (c): The taken by Government of India to ensure   enough buffer of foodgrain stock are as under : steps
- There exists a transparent & uniform policy for procurement of foodgrains at Minimum Support Price (MSP) by Government agencies across the country: As per policy, the offered quantity within the stipulated procurement period & conforming to the specifications prescribed by Government of India, are purchased at MSP by the Government agencies:
- Govt: of India is increasing MSP of foodgrains year on year thereby making agricultural production remunerative to farmers.
- MSP is announced well before the sowing season; so as to enable the farmers to take empowered decision on cultivation of crop:
- Farmers are made aware of the quality specifications and purchase system etc. to facilitate the farmers to bring their produce conforming to the specifications:
- Sufficient numbers of procurement centres are opened by procuring agencies including FCI, keeping in view the procurement potential and geographical spread of the State concerned: Large number of temporary purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and depotsl godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of the farmers:
- "One Nation, One MSP through DBT" implemented across the country from RMS 2021-22 onwards. Payment of MSP has been ensured directly into farmers' account: DBT eliminated fictitious farmers and reduced the diversion and duplication of payment as payment is being made directly to farmer's bank account: DBT of MSP has brought in responsibility, transparency and probity:
- FCI and most of the State Governments have developed their own Online Procurement System which ushers in transparency and convenience to the farmers  through proper registration and monitoring of actual procurement: Through e-procurement module deployed by procuring Agencies, farmers latestlupdated information regarding MSP declared, nearest purchase center; date of procurement etc. This not only has reduced the waiting period for delivery of stock by the farmers but also enables the farmer to deliver stock as per his convenience in the nearest mandi: get