THE PRIEST

As per existing policy, Government procures foodgrains (wheat, rice and coarse cereals) conforming to uniform specifications at Minimum Support Price (MSP) from the farmers through Food Corporation of India (FCI) and States/State agencies for the Central Pool. Procurement of foodgrains is open ended wherein all the foodgrains offered by farmers including small and marginal farmers at MSP and conforming to prescribed specifications are procured. Farmers have a choice to sell it to FCI/State Agencies at MSP or to sell in the open market, as is advantageous to them. This policy is uniformly applicable throughout the country

In view of reports of damages to Central Pool stocks of foodgrains in some godowns of FCI and State agencies during last year,the Government has taken a number of steps. During the current year 2011-12 besides allocating a quantity of 488.71 lakh tons of foodgrains (which includes 50 lakh tons additional APL allocation) under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), an ad hoc additional allocation of 50 lakh tons of rice and wheat has been made to States/UTs in May, 2011 at BPL issue prices for distribution to BPL families upto March, 2012. Further, in pursuance to the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s direction, in its order dated 14.5.2011 to allocate additional quantity of foodgrains to the 150 poorest districts in the country for distribution to extremely poor and vulnerable sections of the society, the government has allocated 3,87,670.65 tons of foodgrains at BPL /AAY issue prices for three months for poor families identified in 74 districts of 13 States as per recommendations of Centra...