|
Rajya Sabha
Government has removed all controls on foodgrains, viz. licensing, stock limits and restrictions on inter-State movement by issuing a Notification on February 15, 2002 with an amendment dated June 16, 2003, according to which any dealer can freely buy, stock, sell, transport, distribute, dispose, acquire, use or consume any quantity of wheat, paddy/rice, coarsegrains, sugar, edible oilseeds and oils, pulses, gur, wheat products and hydrogenated vegetable oil or vanaspati and shall not require any licence or permit therefore.
This Notification has ensured free trade and movement of foodgrains and best prices to farmers for their produce.
Government is implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Construction of Rural Godowns under which subsidy is provided on capital cost of the storage project to persons belonging to private and cooperative sectors. The scheme has helped the farmers to store their produce near the field, obtain pledge loan and marketing credit from the banks, thereby avoiding distress sale at the time of harvest. The scheme is being implemented since March, 2001 and so far 6974 storage projects have been sanctioned by banks to create 115.1 lakh tonnes of rural storage capacity in the country.
This information was given in Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Dr. Akhilesh Prasad Singh in reply to a question of Shri Ravula Chandra Sekar Reddy.
|
