Page 2 - Food Security In India

Import duties to open agri sector key to ensure India's food security: GTRI

Maintaining high import duties on sensitive agri commodities like rice and resisting pressure to open up the domestic sector to low tariffs will be crucial for preserving India's self-sufficiency and ensuring food security for its population, a report said on Monday. Economic think tank GTRI (Global Trade Research Initiative) in its report said that India needs to cut its reliance on imported vegetable oils to promote better health outcomes and also reduce the import bill. This will need educating consumers about the health benefits of using locally produced oils like mustard, groundnut, and rice bran in lieu of imported oils. India is the world's largest importer of vegetable oils, with imports estimated to double to USD 20.8 billion in 2023-24 from USD 10.8 billion in 2017-18. It added that the US and EU currently support agriculture by using the latest technology to maximise output, high tariffs (or import duties) to discourage imports and massive subsidies to push ...

Jharkhand's over 25K FPS dealers join nation-wide 'Ration Bandh' agitation

Over 25,000 fair price shop dealers from Jharkhand on Monday joined the nation-wide indefinite 'Ration Bandh' call given by All India Fair Price Shop Dealers' Federation (AIFPSDF). The strike might impact over 65 lakh beneficiaries covered under national and state food security schemes in Jharkhand, if it goes long, an office bearer of the dealer association said. General secretary of Jharkhand unit of Fair Price Shop Dealers Association (FPSDA) Sanjay Kundu told PTI that the 'Ration Bandh' call has been given in protest against the Central Government's failure to ensure a minimum monthly income guarantee for the dealers and some other issues. "The agitation has been called to press for various demands of the FPS dealers such as ensuring minimum monthly income guarantee of Rs 50,000 for dealers, implementing the recommendations of World Food Program and allowing distribution through e-PoS device by inserting aadhaar number of the cardholders in case of emergency," he said. Kundu sa

Govt plans to sell FCI rice under Bharat brand; price not yet decided

In order to check rice inflation, the government is considering a proposal to sell FCI rice under the 'Bharat' brand but the discounted rate has not yet been decided, a food ministry official said. The ministry's efforts to check retail rice prices by boosting domestic availability through sale of FCI rice via e-auction under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) has received a lukewarm response. "There is a proposal to retail 'Bharat rice' but the price has not yet been decided," the official told PTI on Wednesday. Under the OMSS, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is offering quality rice at a reserve price of Rs 29 per kg. "Whether to sell Bharat rice at the same rate or reduced rate, the decision has to be taken by the Group of Ministers," the official added. The government is already selling wheat flour (atta) and pulses under the Bharat brand through outlets managed by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), National Cooperative Consumers' .

Food security in India: Centre's PMGKAY and its extension explained

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 4 announced the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana scheme for another five years

World Food Day 2023: History, Theme, Importance, Celebration, Quotes

The World Food Day is celebrated every year on October 16 to promote food security everywhere and make sure people are getting enough of it. This Day is celebrated in nearly 150 countries

US, EU criticise India's rice export ban, request immediate resumption

Representatives from Japan, Australia, Brazil, the EU, the UK, and the US raised concerns over the impact of the ban on the global food market

India acts to eliminate trans-fatty acids from national food supplies: WHO

One in four adults in the region has raised blood pressure, while one in ten has diabetes, and less than 15 per cent are on effective treatment coverage

No plan as of now to restrict exports of par-boiled rice: Food Secy

There is no proposal, as of now, to restrict exports of par-boiled non-basmati rice, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Tuesday. On July 20, the central government banned exports of non-basmati white rice to boost domestic supply and keep retail prices under check during the upcoming festive season. In September last year, exports of broken rice were prohibited. "There is no proposal as of now to restrict par-boiled rice exports," Chopra told reporters here when asked whether the government was considering banning exports or imposing an export duty on par-boiled rice to curb outward shipments and control prices. As per the commerce ministry data, India's total exports of basmati rice stood at USD 4.8 billion in 2022-23, while in volume terms it was at 45.6 lakh tonnes. Similarly, exports of non-basmati stood at USD 6.36 billion in the last fiscal. In volume terms, it was 177.9 lakh tonnes. "Non-Basmati white rice constitutes about 25 per cent of total rice exported from t

National Food Security cardholders in Delhi to get free sugar: Cabinet

National Food Security cardholders in Delhi -- representing some of the most marginalised segments of society -- will now have access to free sugar after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved on Monday a Cabinet decision in this regard. The Delhi Cabinet endorsed the proposal for free sugar distribution among families facing economic hardships in July. The beneficiary families will get the free sugar in addition to their existing entitlements of wheat and rice. The decision is set to benefit 68,747 National Food Security cardholders and a total 2,80,290 individuals in Delhi. The financial allocation for the initiative is estimated at Rs 111 crore, the chief minister's office said in a statement. The objective of the initiative, it said, is two-fold -- to mitigate the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged families and to ensure a higher degree of food security for all citizens. By extending essential support to those most in need, the Delhi government is affirming its ...

Global food security at crossroads as rice shortages, surging prices hit

Francis Ndege isn't sure if his customers in Africa's largest slum can afford to keep buying rice from him. Prices for rice grown in Kenya soared a while ago because of higher fertiliser prices and a yearslong drought in the Horn of Africa that has reduced production. Cheap rice imported from India had filled the gap, feeding many of the hundreds of thousands of residents in Nairobi's Kibera slum who survive on less than $2 a day. But that is changing. The price of a 25 kg (55-pound) bag of rice has risen by a fifth since June. Wholesalers are yet to receive new stocks since India, the world's largest exporter of rice by far, said last month that it would ban some rice shipments. It's an effort by the world's most populous nation to control domestic prices ahead of a key election year but it's left a yawning gap of around 9.5 million metric tonnes (10.4 tons) of rice that people around the world need, roughly a fifth of global exports. I'm really hoping the imports keep coming, sa

India's food security under threat as climate change disrupts weather

India last week suspended exports of non-basmati varieties of rice after heavy monsoon rainfall damaged newly planted crops due to be harvested in winter

J&K secures top rank in Food Safety Index for third consecutive year

In a significant achievement, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has maintained its first rank under the union territory (UT) category in Food Safety Index 2022-23.

World Food Safety Day 2023: History, Importance, All you need to know

World Food Safety Day 2023's theme emphasizes the importance of robust regulatory frameworks, efficient inspection systems, and capacity-creating activities in the fight against foodborne diseases

India for finding permanent solution to food stockholding at WTO meet

India has called for finding a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding for food security in the ministerial-level meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in February 2024, an official said. It has dismissed arguments for alternative food security solutions beyond PSH (public stock holding) and SSM (special safeguard mechanism) and believes that market access and export restriction are not worth the effort, the Geneva-based official said. India has also pitched for the need to recalculate the external reference prices to reflect the impact of inflation and other economic factors on food stock prices. The issue was discussed during a special session of the WTO's Committee on Agriculture on May 3 and 4 in Geneva. "India declared that it has no intention of revising the existing proposal for public stockholding for food security purposes and suggested that it is the only way forward. India called for a permanent solution for PSH at MC13 (13th ministerial conference

SCO will help amplify fight against food, energy security challenges: India

India on Wednesday said that with the world facing challenges of a "looming economic recession", a closer cooperation amongst the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members will play a pivotal role in combating challenges such as food and energy security. Speaking at the 19th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Interbank Consortium (SCO IBC), Vivek Joshi, Union Secretary for Department of Financial Services, also said that India has been contributing to mitigate the challenges of food and energy security. Today, when the world is facing challenges of a looming economic recession, a closer cooperation among SCO Member States shall play a pivotal role in combating global challenges such as food and energy security concerns, he said. As part of India's contribution to mitigating these challenges, India's Prime Minister has launched the global Mission 'LIFE' which stands for Lifestyle for Environment. LIFE envisions replacing the prevalent use-and-dispose economy, ...

India to address energy, food security challenges with other nations: EAM

Energy and food security are perhaps the two most immediate global challenges that the South faces, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, asserting that India will work together with other countries to address these problems. Jaishankar, who arrived in Panama from Guyana on Monday, participated in the 4th India-SICA Ministerial meeting here on Tuesday. The Central American Integration System (SICA) is an economic and political organisation of Central American countries. In his opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar thanked SICA for forging a strong relationship and supporting India at various international and multilateral forums. "Energy and food security are perhaps the two most immediate global challenges that the South faces. But again there are the longer term trends, the priorities which will go beyond food and energy security including those of development, of growth, of trade, of investment, of employment, of poverty deduction," he said. "I can assure you tha

Wheat export ban to continue to ensure adequate supplies in India: Goyal

The ban on exports of wheat will continue as India has to ensure adequate supplies of the foodgrain for its domestic market and keep the inflation at check, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. He said that the procurement of wheat has started and the numbers for the first week of buying are "very" satisfactory. "I could believe that we will have a good harvest despite the unseasonal rains...We do believe that we will have to ensure adequate supplies for the Indian market and once the procurement period is over, we believe that it will be important that inflation is also contained in the country and therefore it is important that the wheat exports continue to remain banned," the commerce and industry and consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister told reporters here. He is here on a two-day visit to meet leaders and businesses in order to enhance economic ties between India and Italy. India, the world's second-largest wheat producer, banned wheat exports in Ma

FCI foodgrains stock down by 37% from last year; yet higher than buffer

Centre's foodgrains stock managed by the Food Corporation of India remains 66% higher than the buffer norm

Foreign food manufacturers have to register in India for some exports

Rule applies for exports in five categories of items, says regulator FSSAI

Rice export ban won't lower inflation or meaningfully improve food security

The last time India blocked grain exports, in 2007 and 2008, the decision precipitated a years-long food-security crisis