Govt Lets 30 Lakh Tonnes Of Paddy Rot

[kdsingh80]

Even as the Centre is redrafting the Food Security Bill to ensure availability of food for all, nearly 30 lakh tonnes of paddy — the rice from which could feed around 4 lakh people for a month — have been left to rot in Punjab, with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) refusing to lift the stock.

This particular variety of paddy, PAU 201, was developed by Punjab Agricultural University, and farmers were strongly encouraged to grow it. But now that they’ve done so in large quantities, the FCI, after examining it, has found the extent of damaged stalks to be much higher than rules permit it to accept.

“The Union food secretary has made it clear to us that the FCI will not lift PAU 201,” said N.S. Kang, financial commissioner (development) of Punjab.

“We don’t want to face criminal cases,” said a top FCI official. “The grain damage is 8-9 per cent — much more than the limit of 4.75 per cent we are allowed. Procuring it would be a clear violation of Prevention of Food Adulteration norms.”

PAU 201 was cleared by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research three years ago. Scientists claimed it was a high yielding variety of paddy that required less water than others, matured faster and even had higher nutritional value.

For the first two years, Punjab farmers did not sow it on a large scale. But in 2009-10, they planted it across 6 lakh hectares and produced about 45 lakh tonnes — around 30 per cent of the state’s total produce, said a state government official.

In the past six months, millers disposed of 15 lakh tonnes. But the rest is rotting.

“Government agencies should take my entire stock away and compensate me. I don’t want to mill this variety as the FCI will not lift it,” said Gurpreet Singh Mann, owner of Yadvendra Rice and General Mills, Bathinda.

“State agencies that procured the paddy from farmers will suffer losses of several hundred crore if it is not lifted,” said D.S. Grewal, Director, Food, Punjab. “The government is even considering exporting the stock, if any other country is willing to take it.”

The Punjab government has started issuing advertisements advising farmers never to sow PAU 201 again.

[dalsingh101]

So its official. India has more than enough food. On top of this we have wheat rotting because indoor storage space is being used for alcohol.

Now can India shed its image of half starved kids wondering around?

[kdsingh80]

So its official. India has more than enough food. On top of this we have wheat rotting because indoor storage space is being used for alcohol.

Now can India shed its image of half starved kids wondering around?

India has good food stock,but that does not mean end of starvation.People are poor or starved because they don't have purchasing power.Only by increasing the purchasing power of poor India can end the image of half starved kids

[dalsingh101]

Other nations have welfare schemes, seeing as India has food rotting away, why not there?

[kdsingh80]

Other nations have welfare schemes, seeing as India has food rotting away, why not there?

India also has a welfare scheme which is backfiring badly.It is called NREGA(national rural employment gurantee programme)Every year 40,000 crore rupees is allocated so that in all poor villages minimum of 100 days of employment could be provided.

Now here are the problems.

The aim of scheme was Giving employment and creating rural infrastructure but instead free money is distribuited to people as they just ask labourer to sign and take the half or what ever the amount.the rest of money goes in pockets of govt officials and thekedaars.

Thekedar is happy because he is getting his share,labourer is happy because he is getting money without doing any work.This scheme is one of the reason that Farmers of Punjab are not getting cheap labour.These type of helicopter scheme's are also in many state's.From long term point of view they are just disastrous

[dalsingh101]

Indians are notorious freeloaders, that impulse doesn't help.

[chatanga1]

The aim of scheme was Giving employment and creating rural infrastructure but instead free money is distribuited to people as they just ask labourer to sign and take the half or what ever the amount.the rest of money goes in pockets of govt officials and thekedaars.

this is the problem. Cash. Rather than give them cash as rewards or incentive, they should be distributing this food or other goods which can be used to sustain poor families.

[kdsingh80]

this is the problem. Cash. Rather than give them cash as rewards or incentive, they should be distributing this food or other goods which can be used to sustain poor families.

This type of programme is also running

http://business.mapsofindia.com/rural-economy/development/national-food-work-programme.html

These type of schemes are called helicopter schemes and are only good for short term.For long term you need infrastructure so in 4-5 years people could become self reliant.Unfortunately these schemes have no accountability and therefore either the thekedars

take all the money/foodgrain or just distribuite some part with doing any productive work