Despite a 23 per cent monsoon deficit so far this year, “there is no need for any panic” on the food front as the Government has enough foodgrains stocks to face any adverse situation, said Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Speaking to media persons , here on Friday on the sidelines of a CII-organised seminar on ‘Advanced Technologies for Global Food Market’, he said the Government has rice stocks for one year and of wheat for three years. His Ministry sees no problems on the sugar front either. Though there is a shortfall in sugarcane production in Karnataka, some parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, he said better-than-expected harvest in UP will make up for the losses.
Last year, sugar production exceeded expectations by 15 lakh tonnes at 260 lakh tonnes. And, “we hope, this year, it will not go below 230 lakh tonnes,” he said. In addition, of the 40 lakh tonnes of sugar earmarked for export last year, only 20 lakh tonnes got exported. But Prof Thomas saw an impact of the poor rains on production of pulses and oilseeds. There will also be shortage of cattlefeed, he said.
At the proposed meeting on July 31, his Ministry, along with the Agriculture Ministry, will take a call on how much of pulses and edible oil are to be imported to maintain adequate supplies. “We will have a clear picture by then,” he said. On wastages at Food Corporation of India godowns, he said they are almost nil now. From 2.5 per cent five years ago, wastage has come down to 0.006 per cent.