New Delhi Grain procurement by the government could see a quantum jump in coming years if the proposed Food Security Bill, which assures distribution of subsidised grain to large section of population, is enacted.

Food minister KV Thomas on Wednesday said the annual foodgrain procurement could reach more than 60 million tonne from the current level of 40 million tonne.

Correspondingly, the g

While the record wheat procurement this year has made the government realise the need to have more storage capacity, a projection for the implementation of the proposed food security law in the last two years of the UPA-II indicates that the government stocks may fall well below buffer norms at the time of next general elections in April 2014.

An estimate of food grain budget submitted by the F

The Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) hopes to finalise its Working Group's draft of the Food Security Bill, take the discussion on its Communal Violence (CV) Bill draft further and hold a discussion on the plight of Jarawas in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, when it meets here on Wednesday, sources in the Council toldThe Hindu.

The final version of the Food Security Bill draft,

A good monsoon and bumper wheat harvest is in sight, but the Food Ministry seems worried.

Food Ministry ruled out scrapping curbs on exports of wheat and rice as the world

Move aimed at meeting requirements of proposed National Food Security Act

The Food Ministry plans to augment wheat and rice procurement by 10 million tonnes to meet the expected demand for 70 million tonnes of foodgrain under the proposed National Food Security Act.

Fears large-scale diversion of grain for manufacture of ethanol by the alcohol industry

The food ministry is set to oppose the mandatory 5% ethanol blending programme, fearing diversion of foodgrain for manufacture of ethanol.
The ministry has called for the report of the expert panel headed by Planning Commission member Saumitra Chaudhuri in order to "review" the programme.

The petroleum m

Govt likely to accept most of the council

New Delhi The government seems to be finally working out the modalities of the proposed National Food Security Bill after examining the views of National Advisory Council (NAC) and the committee headed by C Rangarajan, the chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council.

Food and civil supplies minister KV Thomas on Wednesday met NAC chairperson Sonia Gandhi for giving the final touc

New Delhi The food ministry has opposed the proposal of the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) to hike the support price of paddy by R160 per quintal to R1,160 per quintal for 2011-12 crop year.

Paddy minimum support price (common grade) was at R1,000 per quintal last year.