Thaindian News

New Delhi, Apr 6 (ANI): Union Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the government has to take a serious thought on storage, allocation of foodgrains to states and exports, as this year’s production is highest ever since 1947.

“This year’s production is highest ever since 1947. There should not be any problem. The government of India has to take a serious thought on storage, allocation of foodgrains to states and exports,” said Pawar.

As per the latest estimates, India has produced 235.88 million tonnes of foodgrains during 2010-11 compared to 218.11 million tonnes in the previous year. This is highest ever foodgrains production, surpassing the earlier record of 234.47 million tonnes achieved in 2008-09.

Pawar quoted a report by the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP), which said that the stock position of wheat is quite impressive and is worth Rs. 40,000 crore currently.

“The government will have to take a serious view as soon as possible… The government has set a buffer norm. We have stock more than the buffer norm. In this kind of situation, we must take a view (on exports),” he added.

The Minister earlier today inaugurated the National conference on Advance estimates of production of major crops in the country.

It may also be noted that the production of wheat, estimated at 84.27 million tones, is an all time record. Similarly, production of pulses, estimated at 17.29 million tones, is an all time record.

Despite a setback in the production of rice due to drought in some of the major rice producing areas in the country, foodgrains production reached the record level due to significant improvement in production of wheat, pulses and coarse cereals. (ANI)