To feed poor amid crisis, 44% of grain from Punjab alone

Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 30

Snubbed by Niti Aayog in 2018 for seeking more funds, Punjab's contribution to the FCI amid the Covid crisis stands at 44 per cent (to date). The state has sent more than 28 lakh tonnes of wheat and rice to other states via rail since March 26. As many as 937 trains carried grain from Punjab during March 26-April 30.

Turning down Punjab's plea for enhancing minimum support price (MSP) based on C2 formula (cost inputs plus land rent), the Aayog Vice-Chairman had asked a Punjab delegation to instead work towards securing good income for the state's farmers through aggressive diversification. Punjab Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Bharat Bhushan Ashu quoted the FCI as having stated on April 7 that foodgrain transported from Punjab comprised 46 per cent of the total stock moved across the country to feed the poor during the lockdown.This figure has since come down marginally.

A senior FCI official in Delhi said: "At least 28 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of the total 63 LMT metric tonnes of wheat and rice distributed during the Covid crisis so far has come from Punjab. This works out to be more than 44 per cent of the total contribution. Haryana comes next with a contribution of 11.50 LMT and Telangana with about 9 LMT".

According to the Director (Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs), Anandita Mitra, Punjab still has a stock of 102 LMT of rice and 75 LMT of wheat. Punjab immediately joined the supply chain for national foodgrain security after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) decided to enhance quantities of essential foodgrain at highly subsidised rates for the poor, said a senior official.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2VRPzTr