-The United Nations The United Nations today reported that global food prices slightly increased in September after two months of stability, and warned that despite increased cereal production in low income countries, global harvest of this commodity is expected to decrease this year. During September, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Price Index rose by 1.4 per cent from its level in August. The rise to 216 points from 213...
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Drought to hit coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds output: Pawar
-The Business Standard Despite a marked improvement in the southwest monsoon, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said production of coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds and rice, to some extent, would be less than last year. For sugar, the cane area is more. But, Pawar said, some drop in production can be expected as farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra have diverted a sizeable portion of standing crop towards fodder. Announcing the second relief package...
More »Arif Husain, Deputy Chief of the Food Security Analysis Service in World Food Programme interviewed by WFP podcast team
-World Food Programme Global food prices have taken a worrying turn as drought in the United States causes grain prices to surge. In the latest episode of the Food Factor Podcast, we spoke with WFP’s Deputy Director of Food Security Analysis Arif Husain to find out what the third food-price shock in five years means for the fight against hunger. * What are the main factors behind rising food prices this year? The...
More »Government rolls out package to deal with poor monsoon
-The Economic Times The government has stopped short of declaring a drought but rolled out a relief package which includes subsidised diesel for irrigation, funds to ensure drinking water, seed subsidy for resowing crops and augmentation of fodder supply. "The number of rain-deficient districts this year is more than in 2009," said agriculture minister Sharad Pawar after chairing a meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought. The meteorological department...
More »KV Thomas, Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution interviewed by Nitin Sethi
Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution KV Thomas tells Nitin Sethi that it makes better sense to distribute stocked foodgrain to people of the country than subsidise exports. Possible spread of drought that the government is looking at... At the moment, monsoon rainfall is 23% below the long term average. But we have to wait another 15 days to know the full situation. We had discussion in the presence...
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