IN the fiscal year 2020-21, India registered twin records – exporting close to 20 million tonnes (mt) of grain and also distributing 92 mt under schemes such as National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
Record distribution
- IN the 2020-21 fiscal year which ended March 31, 2021 – a record 92 million tonnes (mt) of rice and wheat was distributed from the central pool.
- That included 60.32 mt under the National Food Security Act and other regular welfare schemes, besides 31.52 mt under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Atmanirbhar Bharat Package (for returning migrant labourers).
Offtake of two grains
- Offtake of the two cereals (rice and wheat) averaged just 62.69 mt during the previous five years, while amounting to 62.19 mt in 2019-20.
- The total grain channelled through the public distribution system (PDS) in 2020-21 was, in other words, nearly 50% higher than in normal years.
Exports
- The fiscal year 2020-21 also saw exports of 19.81 mt valued at $9.36 billion (Rs 69,331.45 crore).
- While rice exports were an all-time-high – 13.09 mt non-basmati (Rs 35,448.24 crore) and 4.63 mt basmati (Rs 29,849.40 crore) – the 2.09 mt (Rs 4,033.81 crore) for wheat was also the highest since 2014-15.
(Source: Indian Express)
