April 10, 2002

‘39’

    As per a study sponsored by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, a buffer stock level of around 10 million tonnes of foodgrains could be considered as adequate to meet the national food security requirement. This recommendation has been considered by the Expenditure Reforms Commission (ERC) who have recommended that a national food security stock of 10 million tonnes comprising 4 million tonnes of wheat and 6 million tonnes of rice be maintained at all times in addition to the operational stock required for the public distribution system.

    According to the Annual Report of Department of Food and Public Distribution, for the year 2001-2002 in order to finalise the revised norms for buffer stocking policy on foodgrains for the Tenth Five Year Plan, a Technical Group on Buffer stocking Policy has been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary, Food and Public Distribution. The recommendation of ERC will be taken into consideration by this group while formulating the buffer stocking policy for the Tenth FiveYear Plan.

    The total stocks of rice and wheat in the central pool as on March 2002 is 544.32 lakh tonnes comprising 259.68 lakh tonnes fo rice and 284.64 lakh tonnes of wheat as on March 1, 2002.