-The Financial Express Despite the delayed monsoon and slow progress in sowing, the government on Monday set a 30 million tonne (mt) rice procurement target for the 2014-15 kharif marketing season, starting October. Despite the delayed monsoon and slow progress in sowing, the government on Monday set a 30 million tonne (mt) rice procurement target for the 2014-15 kharif marketing season, starting October. This is a moderate revision from the previous year's kharif...

-The Hindu The government on Thursday said it proposed to restructure the Food Corporation of India that procured, stored and distributed foodgrain to identified beneficiaries under the Targeted Public Distribution System. Presenting his budget proposals for the food sector, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government was committed to reducing transportation and distribution losses and enhance the efficacy of the Public Distribution System. Food Security Act Although Mr. Jaitley did not mention the...

-The Times of India   The NDA government committed to continue UPA's flagship Food Security Act to ensure that the poor get wheat and rice at subsidized rates. The budgetary allocation has been increased to Rs 1.15 lakh crore in comparison to Rs 92,000 crore during the last financial year. Finance minister Arun Jaitley said, "Even if due to inadequate rainfall there is a marginal decline in agriculture production, stocks in the...

-Down to Earth Rural development ministry to make social audit compulsory; create more durable assets in blocks and districts, instead of villages UPA's flagship programme, Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), is set to see some changes under the ruling NDA government. The Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has decided to focus on social audit and create durable assets at block and district levels under the programme. In a letter, dated June...

-PTI Delay in onset of monsoon and its slow progress have led to late sowing of paddy, pulses, oilseeds and cotton, but the sowing window is available till early August and its coverage is expected to improve with progress of rains, the Government told the Lok Sabha today. Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the Government has taken several measures to address "any situation" arising due to deficiency in rainfall. "Delay in...