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SIGNIFICANT POINTERS: The Union Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Sharad Pawar, making a point at a press conference on monsoon and progress of kharif sowing operations in the Capital on Wednesday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , July 20

THE overall foodgrain stocks - driven by low wheat stocks in the Central pool - have declined below the minimum buffer norms by about 25 lakh tonnes (lt) as on July 1. The Government plans make good the low wheat stocks by offering rice instead of wheat for the Food-for-Work programmes in the North-East and Kerala.

The Union Minister for Agriculture, Food and Consumer Affairs, Mr Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday maintained that there was no cause for concern and that the stock situation was "comfortable" to meet the country's requirements this year.

As on July 1, there was an estimated stock of 245 lakh tonnes (lt) of foodgrains in the Central Pool, comprising 145 lt of wheat and 100 lt of rice (including unmilled paddy). The buffer norms set by the Government for July 1 requires 269 lt of foodgrains (9.8 lt of rice and 17.8 lt of wheat).

"Normally the monthly offtake from the Central Pool ranges between 140-150 lt. Thus, there should not be any shortfall," said a senior Food Ministry official. Government had revised its buffer norms upwards in March this year before which it was at 243 lt for July 1 (constituting of 10 lt rice and 14.3 lt wheat).

"We had revised the buffer norms upwards anticipating additional demand for the Food-for-Work programmes introduced by the Government," said Mr Pawar.

Asked whether the programmes would be affected, he said: "There are States like the North-East that have been demanding rice instead of wheat. We would start sending rice to those States."

As for the exact details of substitution, a senior Ministry official said: "The Ministry of Rural Development is preparing some recommendations for the programmes and it will submit it to the Food Ministry."

On the increase in prices of wheat and sugar, the Minister said they were under control. "Both sugar and wheat prices are under control and there is nothing to worry at present," Mr Pawar said.

No noticeable change in wheat price was recorded during recent past, he said.

`Sugar export obligation remains unchanged': He said the prospect of sugar output for the next season had brightened as cane sowing was progressing satisfactorily. The country might even start thinking to export from next sugar year as cane acreage this year was better than the last two years, he said. He said the 36 months export obligation for raw sugar import remained unchanged.

`Sowing progressing well': On the ongoing kharif season sowing, he said: "Except Jharkhand and Marathwada region of Maharashtra, by and large, kharif sowing season is progressing well."

He said sowing operation had been delayed due to late arrival of monsoon but expressed confidence of meeting the initial deficit in acreage by the middle of next month. Sowing of rice was progressing well and similar progress was taking place for cereals also, Mr Pawar said.

He, however, said there was no substantial improvement in the sowing acreage for oilseeds and pulses. "Barring these two, the overall crop situation during the current sowing season is comfortable," he said.

On the quantum of edible oil import next year, he said: "It is too early to say anything about this."

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