Foodgrain output enough to meet FY08 demand: Pawar

NEW DELHI: The availability of foodgrains for the year 2007-08 will be about five million tonnes more than the demand, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Monday. Replying to questions, Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said the production of foodgrains during 2007-08 was estimated to be 219.3 million tonnes.

It is expected that except for pulses, the country would remain self-sufficient in foodgrains during the XIth plan period, he said. To increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses, a centrally-sponsored ���National Food Security Mission��� has been launched from rabi season of 2007-08.

The mission aims at adding the production of rice by 10 million tonnes, wheat by eight million tonnes and pulses by two million tonnes by the end of the XIth plan through area increase and productivity enhancement in targeted districts, he said.

Mr Pawar said the productivity of foodgrains has increased from 198 million tonnes in 2004-05 to 219.3 million tonnes in the current financial year. Production of pulses and cereals has not been as per the requirement, the agriculture minister said, adding the government was trying for new varieties of seeds to improve production.

To a question, Mr Pawar said import of agriculture products did not make anyone happy but the government has to resort to such a measure to create strategic reserve.