Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prof. K.V Thomas has said that the Government is committed to enactment of the National Food Security Act to provide a statutory framework for assured food security to all. Addressing the Inaugural Session of a seminar organized by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) here today (12^th October 2011), the Minister said that the proposed legislation would be a paradigm shift in approach towards food security - from welfare based to rights based approach, involving legal obligation on the Government to deliver food entitlements. It will be a comprehensive effort, adopting a life-cycle approach, in providing food and nutritional security to people, with special emphasis on vulnerable groups (For example, people belonging to Below Poverty Line).

Highlighting the priority of the Government to provide food security to all, Prof. Thomas said that the draft Bill proposes to provide right to receive food grains at subsidized prices under the Targeted Public Distribution System by persons belonging to priority households and general households. It proposes coverage of up to 75% of the total rural population, with at least 46% population belonging to priority households and up to 50% of the total urban population, with at least 28% population belonging to priority households. Each person in priority households would be entitled to 7 kg food grains per month at a price of not exceeding `3 `2 or `1 per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains and 3 kg per person per month at a price of not exceeding 50% of the minimum support price for wheat and coarse grains and derived minimum support price for rice in general households.

The Food Minister said that the Bill also contains provisions for Nutritional support to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children, entitlements of special groups such as destitute persons, homeless and such other needy persons, emergency and disaster affected persons, persons living in starvation, etc.

He said, “The Central Govt. has held wide ranging consultations with various stakeholders, including State Governments and UT Administrations regarding the proposed Food Security legislation. Based on these consultations and comments/recommendations received, we have recently prepared a draft National Food Security Bill and the same has been placed on the website of the Ministry for comments/suggestions. The Bill is likely to be introduced in the Parliament shortly after taking into account the comments received from stakeholders and after appropriate consultations.”

Prof. Thomas said that implementation of the legislation which will place a major demand on agricultural production and related infrastructure is no doubt, going to be a challenging task. It would involve enhanced production of food grains, higher procurement, creation of additional storage facilities, rail-road infrastructure for movement of food grains and a streamlined distribution network. Based on the provisions of the draft Bill, the requirement of food grains for TPDS, Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) and natural calamities is estimated at about 61 million tons.

In order to cover a large section of rural as well as urban population, as envisaged in the proposed National Food Security Act, it is necessary to have sufficient stocks of food grains in the Central Pool for distribution. To meet the increased requirement of food grains, R&D efforts need to be intensified to ensure better yield from the available agricultural land. Development of modern farming technologies, high-yield varieties of seeds, efficient irrigation techniques are required to attain higher food grain production. The minister expressed confidence that Institutions like ICAR and IRRI are quite capable in meeting the challenges of research and development in the field of agriculture to ensure sustained implementation of the proposed legislation.

Government, NGOs, Research Institutions and other stakeholders must work together to make this momentous legislation a success so that the intended benefits reach the targeted beneficiaries, the minister added.

This is according to a news release available on the Press Information Bureau website. For more information related to Public Distribution System, visit PDS Gaya Website at www.pdsonline.in

Most of you would have known about the fact that 25% of the food samples produced for food safety test has been found adulterated. But PDS Gaya today will post the same information in order to make its people know the fact that only food approved by authorities are worth buying.

Food safety and Standard Act (FSSA). 2006 came into force since 5^th August 2011 and with it, comes a package that includes imprisonment and fining those who are found selling adulterated food items. Adulterators may also be sentenced to life imprisonment or fine up to `10,00,000 depending on the seriousness of the crime. Even genetically modified food, organic food, beverages, dietary supplements can also be scrutinized under this act.

Therefore, one should know this that if any Public Distribution System's FPS is selling or providing such item, you may contact responsible authorities to take up suitable steps.

Recently, it is found that 25% of the total food tested for adulteration has been found to be adulterated. The incidence of adulteration in cereals, edible oils, spices, milk and foodgrains is very high in Bihar. This is according to JK Singh the Deputy Direction or Bihar.

One should also know that regular consumption of adulterated food can lead to many health problems which includes fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, etc.

Coming to what are added in various items, Cereals and products like wheat, flour, besan, rice and grams have been found to have the presence of dust, insects, fungus, etc. In milk and milk products , mainly starch and sodium bicarbonate are used for adulteration. Besides, in spices and condiments, mostly artificial yellow color, lead chromate, brick powder and dust are added.

The act also covers items like tea, coffee, soft drink, jelly, ketchup, jam, pan masala, sweets and sweetening agents, flavour materials, salt, sugar, vanaspati, meat and horticulture products. However, medical products, cosmetics, drugs, animal feed and narcotics do not come under the purview of this act.

One should have the knowledge that any competent authority can seize and recall the adulterated products. Therefore, be informed and stay safe.

For more information on Public Distribution and other food security, visit PDS Gaya website.

Owing to the shortage of foodgrains in the country, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prof. K.V. Thomas has called for capital investment in agriculture by public and private participation to increase agricultural productivity, a key challenge for ensuring national food security. He has said that the investment is specially required in the eastern and north-eastern regions, where agriculture sector has a great potential.

Addressing the Agriculture Leadership Summit 2011 on the 14^th of Sept., Prof. Thomas said that a ‘Mission Mode Program’ should also be taken up on priority basis to exploit the potential of existing ‘yield gaps’ and a sound mechanism should be developed to link farmers to markets which is a pre-requisite for augmenting farm production and farmers’ income.

To make you all understand, what the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said we at PDS Gaya is putting up the full text of the speech on our blog.

Full text of the Minister’s speech is as follows

"India has made great strides in increasing food grain production since the Green Revolution era of the mid-sixties. During the last one decade, production of maize and cotton has doubled. In the recent past, the growth rates in horticulture, livestock and fishery sectors have been impressive and have significantly contributed towards agricultural gross domestic product. Nevertheless, the declining total factor productivity, diminishing and degrading natural resources and stagnating farm incomes have become major concerns. The impact of trade liberalization on agriculture and the global climate change are new challenges. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging for agriculture sector in our country. Commercialization of agriculture, diversification towards high-value commodities and integration with the global markets are the new opportunities.

The first and foremost issue is conservation and enhancement of ecological foundations for sustainable agriculture. Urbanization is exerting tremendous pressure on available land and water resources. There has been a significant development in small farm management in respect of all the sub-sectors, i.e., crops, animal husbandry and fisheries. This process requires to be encouraged to provide ‘the power of mass production by the mass of small farmers’.

Orientation of agricultural development should shift from increasing production to raising farm income. This is important to check the widening rural-urban disparity and to diversify rural livelihood options, covering crop, livestock, fisheries and horticultural activities. Hence, the task to link farmers with the market must be taken on top priority.

The issues related to investment and subsidies, natural resource conservation, current global financial crisis, agricultural diversification and possible approach for sustainable agriculture need to be addressed on priority basis.

The livestock sector, which can play a vital role in supplementing farm incomes, creating rural employment, addressing gender equity and increase rural livelihood options needs more attention.

I may like to suggest the following steps

Increasing agricultural productivity is a key challenge for ensuring national food security. To increase production, exploiting the potential of existing yield gaps offers a tremendous opportunity. Hence, a Mission Mode Program on “Bridging the Productivity Gap” with real missionary zeal and effective monitoring is required to be launched with meticulous planning as a matter of priority.

Rainfed areas have a huge potentiality to raise production and increase farm income. These grey areas can soon be made green to harness a second green revolution. Role of technologies, policies and infrastructure would be very important in realizing the potential of rainfed agriculture.

Linking farmers to markets is a pre-requisite for augmenting farm production and farmers’ income. Role of innovative institutions would be critical in this context to reap the benefits of emerging opportunities. A silent revolution of innovative institutions is already taking place in the Indian agricultural production and marketing system.

There is a dire need to attract the capital investment in agriculture by public and private participations in the non-green revolution regions, particularly in the eastern and north-eastern India, where agriculture sector has a great potential. Hence, investment priorities must now be oriented towards realistic growth of agriculture for meeting the growing needs of the population.

Agriculture is confronted with new forms of risks and uncertainties. These are related to natural calamities, global climate change, use of food for bio-fuels, uncertainty over prices etc. Role of knowledge system and institutional mechanisms for input supply, credit, crop and livestock insurance etc. would be important in reducing both risks and uncertainties in order to attain the much needed resilience in agriculture sector.

Climate change has added a new dimension to future agricultural growth, which is a major concern. The worst affected would be small farm holders located in the marginal and under-privileged areas. Therefore, investment options for both adaptation and mitigation and policies, which can help in reducing the impact of climate change are urgently needed at this stage.

There is an urgent need for agricultural diversification by identifying the key crops/commodities which can help small farm holders to raise their income. Incremental gains in income through diversification will help capital formation which will be instrumental in attaining higher productivity and profitability.

Globalization of agriculture offers immense opportunities for export of agricultural products. This can be harnessed only by increased efficiency in our production systems, improved quality of produce, value addition, market intelligence and long term well targeted export policies and planning, supported an enabling environment both within and outside the country. An institutional mechanism, with emphasis on a single window system, would catalyze the whole process of agricultural exports from India, for which tremendous opportunities exist but have not been tapped presently.

I am sure that the 4th Agriculture Leadership Summit 2011 on the theme of Policy Reforms for Farm Growth will be able to address the issues of productivity, environmental challenges, land and subsidies reforms, food security and all other related issues that our farmers and agriculture sector faces today, and would come out with the recommendations for Government to consider addressing the challenges to the agriculture sector.”

We'll be putting up latest updates related to Public Distribution System on our blog as well our site i.e. PDS Gaya site.

(Inputs taken from Press Information Bureau, GOI website)