No worries about availability of food grains: Pawar

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today 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 predicted bountiful rains across the country in the month of August though the downpour would be less than normal this month," Pawar told reporter 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 added.     

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 shared that 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 added 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 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 replied it was a "local issue" which the state governments should take care of.