WHILE old stocks of foodgrains which are contaminated and inedible are being given to adivasi areas through the public distribution system (PDS), the newer stocks are being kept for exports, Brinda Karat, member of parliament and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, told the union food minister K V Thomas on February 21. Showing to the minister the samples of contaminated rice collected from adivasi areas in Andhra Pradesh, she said inedible wheat...
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Bihar farmers upset over slow pace of paddy procurement
Rice cultivators in Bihar are upset over the slow pace of procurement of their produce by the Centre, as well state agencies. Against a target of procuring 12 lakh tonnes of paddy this year, just about 3.5 lakh tonnes have been purchased so far, sources in state food and civil supplies department said. The procurement process will end by March 30. "I worked hard to grow paddy in my field. I pray to...
More »Poor paddy procurement adds to Bihar farmers' woes
Surinder Mahato is a worried man. A small farmer on the outskirts of Bihar's capital Patna, he laboured throughout last year's drought to ensure that his farm's output of rice was not affected. But he now stares in distress at the stacks of paddy lying in his hut. 'I am waiting to sell my crop, but due to the government negligence, I am forced to sell at throwaway prices to local...
More »In agriculture’s pyrrhic victory, a call to caution by RN Bhaskar
There’s both good news and bad news on the food front. The good news is that wheat, maize and pulses production during the current year will be the highest that India has seen. Wheat production was expected to be high, thanks to the twin advantages of a high procurement price —- higher than international prices —- and favourable weather conditions. But pulses production too has zoomed, because of the soaring prices in the...
More »Thomas food bill push by Radhika Ramaseshan
New food minister K.V. Thomas has set the ball rolling on the food security bill, a top priority for the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC). Thomas, who last month replaced Sharad Pawar as minister in charge of the department, met council members Harsh Mander and N.C. Saxena on Thursday to discuss the bill. The minister’s push is being seen as an indication that Sonia’s team may get its way against objections...
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