Date:15/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/15/stories/2006091514670100.htm

Front Page

Rs. 2,482-crore package to raise wheat output

Gargi Parsai

Special focus on 138 districts in nine States

Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal among States identified
Steps to be taken to increase sown area

NEW DELHI: To push for higher wheat production, the Centre has worked out a Rs. 2,482-crore package for inputs intervention in 138 districts across nine States from the upcoming rabi sowing season beginning October.

The States included in the package are those with the potential to enhance wheat production and productivity. Land in the districts identified is 80-90 per cent irrigated.

Of Rs. 2,482 crore to be spent over three years, the Centre's share will be 50 per cent, while the States will contribute 30 per cent. Beneficiaries will contribute the rest of the amount. The States selected are Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, U.P., Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal.

The goal is to increase wheat output by five million tonnes to seven million tonnes with interventionsto enhance productivity. The output this rabi season was 69.62 million tonnes as against the initial estimate of 72-73 million tonnes.

Coupled with low procurement for the Public Distribution System, the country imported 55 lakh tonnes of wheat on government account. Private traders have been permitted to import 25 lakh tonnes for open market.

Earlier this week, the Union Agriculture Ministry made a presentation of the proposed intervention package before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Union Ministers concerned, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, experts and senior officials.

The two-pronged strategy calls for interventions to increase the sown area by between one million hectares and 1.4 million hectares in U.P., Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat; and enhancement of productivity from 25 to 40 per cent.

It is estimated that the requirement of wheat, including for the PDS, buffer norms, consumption, open market demands et al in 2011-12 will be 81.95 million tonnes, while the total foodgrains demand is expected to be 229.48 million tonnes.

At a national conference on `Agriculture for Rabi Campaign, 2006-07' here on Thursday, Union Agriculture Secretary Radha Singh, referring to the proposed interventions, asked the States to be "in a state of preparedness" to implement the action plan.

"Wheat production has become such an issue before the country that we were instructed by the Prime Minister to prepare short, medium and long-term plans on how to enhance production," she said.