MUMBAI (Commoditiescontrol) – The government is set to include crops other than wheat and rice that are more in demand due to higher incomes and changing nutritional requirements, in the national food security policy. This will result in larger production of crops like pulses, subsidy for fertilisers for other crops and incentivising farmers to diversify their crop mix.
According to a national daily, the Niti Aayog has been driving the change in food security policies, in line with the government’s long-term plan for the sector. "We need to look at the food security policy in a more robust manner as the vision of doubling farmers’ income is not possible unless we address the long-term challenges to the sector," an official told the national daily.
However, the biggest challenge is how to improve food and nutrition security that can meet the changing requirements and preferences of the people. Until now the market was distorted by protecting wheat and rice for years.
The National Food Security Act is implemented in all states and Union Territories, entitling 81.34 crore people to buy wheat at Rs 2/kg and rice at Rs 3/kg. However, Indians are no longer interested in consuming just wheat and rice and instead looking for a more nutritional diet, including pulses. This entail changes in existing policies, which have so far focused on subsidising only wheat and rice.
India’s produced 104.3 million tonnes of rice and 93.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2015-16 as per agriculture ministry’s estimates in August. Production of pulses is estimated at 16.5 million tonnes.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015522)
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