New Delhi: Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Thursday the Centre has enough foodgrains to meet the country's demand for 13 months but affirmed that the monsoon situation is improving "every alternate day".
"I (have) about 13 months' stock (of foodgrains) in the country's kitty. Moreover, from October onward, I will get paddy from this year's crop," Pawar said in New Delhi on Thursday.
Pawar said he was briefed by the Cabinet Secretary along with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Food and Water Resources yesterday, who told him that "subdued" rainfall is expected over north-western India (Punjab, Haryana and some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) over the next five days.
But situation in the country as a whole is improving, he said.
The minister also expressed confidence that any setback in kharif sowing can be more than offset during the rabi.
"In the kharif last year, we had a little setback but we made up in the rabi. Now, we will keep preparedness not only to make up but to see improvement in some rabi crops," he said.
Commenting on the decline of acreage, he said paddy sowing can go up till the first week of August. For pulses, oilseeds and cereals, sowing can be expedited in a week.
"We are keeping a close watch. But in the last 2-3 days, the situation in some states have been improving. In fact, every alternate day the situation is improving," he said.
Nevertheless, Pawar admitted that he is not as "comfortable" as he was last year.
"In 2007-08, we broke the record in foodgrain production since 1947. In 2008-09 again, we may break the record. But now (2009-10), the way I was comfortable last year, I am not still that comfortable (today)," Pawar explained.
The area under paddy, a major kharif crop, has declined to 46.6 lakh hectares as on July 2, compared with 54.16 lakh hectares in the same period last year, he said, adding that the situation must have improved since last week.
While the acreage of maize, jowar and sugarcane declined till July 2, that of cotton has gone up, he said.
The minister further said the expected "subdued rainfall" over north-western India is a bit of a concern but most of the areas in such states depend upon irrigation for farming and not just rainfall.
"In the north-western India, substantial areas are under irrigation. The problem is the availability of power. The Cabinet Secretary has given instructions to the Power Ministry to provide additional power to these areas. So more power will be provided to Punjab, Haryana and UP," the minister said.
He added that the country's stock position is also very comfortable.
The Centre has 329 lakh tonnes of wheat as on July 1 this year against the buffer norm of 171 lakh tonnes.
Similarly, rice to the tune of 196 lakh tonnes is in reserve against the buffer requirement of just 98 lakh tonnes during the review period.
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