Nothing to worry about availability of food grains: Pawar

Hyderabad, Jul 11 (PTI) India's Agriculture Minister
Sharad Pawar Saturday said there was nothing to worry about
the availability of food grains in the country even though the
monsoon situation was not normal.

"Things should, however, improve as the Indian
Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted bountiful rains
across the country in the month of August though the downpour
would be less than normal this month," Pawar said here.

As per the IMD's forecast, only 86 per cent rainfall was
expected this month and 101 per cent in August.

"If that prediction is proved to be absolutely correct,
then there will be not a serious situation," Pawar said.

He said rice and wheat stocks sufficient for 30 months
were available in the country right now and hence there was
nothing to worry about any crisis.

"In fact, this year we have supported 18 developing
countries by sending rice and wheat stocks. As such, we
ourselves should not face any problem in whatever situation,"
the Minister said.

He said Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, parts of
Bihar and Himachal Pradesh had received less rainfall this
season but things should improve in those states in the next
couple of days with IMD forecasting good rains.

Referring to the contingency plans in case of a failed
monsoon, the Minister said the second alternative was ready
along with the Kharif action plan and accordingly required
seed and fertilizer stocks were made available to every state.

On non-availability of storage space in godowns, Pawar
said there were plans to make use of the sugar industry
godowns in various states as all the FCI and Warehousing
Corporation of India godowns were filled upto 102 per cent
of their capacity.

"Storage of food grains is the biggest problem I am
facing right now. Even the country's southern state Andhra
Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy wrote a letter to
me a couple of days ago asking the FCI to vacate godowns in
the state. We are planning to hire godowns of the agricultural
market committees in different states to store food grains and
overcome the storage crisis," Pawar said.

About the spiralling prices of essential commodities, the
Minister said it was a "local issue" which the state
governments should take care of. PTI DBV
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