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03.08.2010
procurement being what it is, our production being what it is – needs more storage
space.
The off take of the total allocation by the Central Government to the State
Government in 2008-09 was 90 per cent. In the current year the total off take is 82
per cent. Who is responsible? Shri Basudeb Acharia was saying that Kerala’s
ration is cut by 70 per cent. Kerala was given sufficient food by the Central
Government and there was no complaint. For four consecutive years the off take
was only 35 per cent and 70 per cent of the allotment was not lifted by the State
Government. I am saying it with all responsibility.… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please do not disturb. Shri Chacko, please address the Chair.
SHRI P.C. CHACKO : When the off take was less than 30 per cent the
Central Government or the FCI had no other option. The targeted Public
Distribution System was introduced. If our production today is 230 million tones
what is the reason for that? I would like all the hon. Members to understand that
in the last six years, from 2005-06 to 2010-11, what was the increase in the
Minimum Support Price. From Rs.640 per quintal the wheat price has gone up to
Rs.1100 per quintal and for rice it has gone up from Rs.570 per quintal to Rs.1000
per quintal. The farmer was given a remunerative price. If the rice was given at
Rs.1000 per quintal it means that one kilo rice costs Rs.10. If for wheat Rs.1100
were given, it means for one kilo, Rs.11 are given. If the farmer had not been
given a remuneration price, the farmer would have stopped producing. But today,
we are producing 30 million tonnes of rice. This UPA Government which is
ruling the country is giving all encouragement to the farmers. We should
understand that. We cannot expect all these things at a throw away price.
Now I would like to mention the issue price. Today, the central issue price
of rice is Rs.5.65 for BPL and Rs.4.15 for the BPL wheat. They are saying that
the ration is cut out. Today, we are having Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
Scheme at Rs.3 and Rs.2. What is the procurement price? The procurement price
is Rs.10 and Rs.11 plus procurement expenditure. It costs around Rs.13 and Rs.14
200