‘Need to firm up food distribution’

Jul 11, 2010 - RAJIB CHOWDHURI |

Kolkata

Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday stressed the need for strengthening the delivery mechanism in the country to meet the demand for food. Mr Mukherjee said that sustained agricultural growth was needed not only for economic prosperity but also for inclusive growth.

“When India’s population will touch 1.5 billion by 2030, the demand for food will turn acute. To feed them we need to produce more, procure more and ensure more accessibility by strengthening the delivery mechanism. The government is committed to fulfil the goal of delivery mechanism,” Mr Mukherjee added.
Mr Mukherjee pointed out that 10 million tonnes of rice was destroyed in natural calamities during the global financial recess. “But we were able to overcome that hurdle as we had buffer stock during the crisis,” he said on the concluding day of a workshop on “Bringing Green Revolution To Eastern India.”
The two-day programme was organised by the agriculture department of the West Bengal government and department of the agriculture and cooperation at the Centre. Mr Mukherjee assured that there would be no dearth of funds for the growth in agricultural sector.
“In the last Budget, Rs 400 crores were allotted to six states in the eastern region for green revolution. More funds will be allotted once the programme proceeds,” the minister said.

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