By IANS,
New Delhi : The issue price of foodgrain under the proposed National Food Security Bill must be re-looked at to reduce the subsidy burden, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Wednesday said.
According to the draft of the bill, up to 75 percent of rural population and 50 percent of urban households would get monthly entitlement of 7 kg foodgrain per person, at Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Re.1 per kg for coarse grains.
The cabinet will soon decide on the minimum support price of foodgrain for the Rabi season shortly, the minister said addressing the Economic Editors conference here.
Stating that the food production this year is expected to cross 241 million tonnes, Pawar said the demand for food will also rise because of improved per capita income.
“Besides focusing on agricultural production, we also need to improve productivity,” he added.
On sugar production, there were no differences with the food ministry, Pawar said.