SYLLABUS SECTION: GS III (AGRICULTURE)

WHY IN THE NEWS?

Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have demanding more Less wheat on states’ plate in place of rice and ask the Centre,

To restore their original allocations, Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013,

Or change the wheat-rice allocation ratio that was revise by the Union Food Ministry in May.

On May 14, Food Secretary announce that after consulting with the states the Centre has reallocate some quantities by changing ratios of wheat and rice under the NFSA.
For example, states getting wheat and rice at a 60:40 ratio will now get it at 40:60, while those getting allocations at 75:25 would now get these at 60:40. States where rice allocation has been zero will continue to get wheat.
For small states, NE states and special category states, allocation has not been change. According to the Food Ministry, the move would save about 61 lakh tones of wheat over the remaining 10 months (June-March) of the current financial year.

Wheat allocation under NFSA was revise downward for 10 states: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
These states account for about 55.14 crore (67%) of the 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the NFSA.
Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, which have demanded restoration of their original allocations, are primarily wheat-consuming states.

The NFSA covers 67.21% of India’s population (75%inruralIndia, 50%in urban). Out of 81.35 crore accepted (upper limit) beneficiaries,79.73 crore (98.01%) have been identified.
There are two types of beneficiaries:
Antyodya Anna Yojana households (entitled to 35 kg food grains per household per month)
Priority Households (5kg per person per month) Rice is provided at Rs3 per kg, wheat at Rs2 per kg and coarse grains at Rs1perkg.