Cabinet revises food grain buffer norms in central pool

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for the revision of buffer norms of foodgrains in the Central Pool.

A Cabinet release said that foodgrain buffer norms have been revised from 21.2 in million tonnes as on April 1 to 21.04 million tonnes; 31.9 million tonnes as on July 1 to 41.12 million tonnes;21.2 million tonnes on October 1 to 30.77 million tonnes, and 25.0 million tonnes on January 1 to 21.41 million tonnes.

The previous buffer norms were in existence since April, 2005.

The CCEA has also approved that in case the foodgrain stock in the Central Pool is more than the revised buffer norms, the Department of Food and Public Distribution will offload excess stock in the domestic market through open sale or through exports.

For this purpose, an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) consisting of Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, Secretary, Expenditure and Secretary, Consumer Affairs has been constituted.

This will ensure better management of food stocks in the country, the Cabinet said.