States allocated Rs 1,800 cr under National Food Security Mission under 12th 5YP

NEW DELHI: The Centre has allocated over Rs 1,800 crore to states under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) this year to raise foodgrains output by 25 million tonnes in the 12th Five Year Plan period.

Uttar Pradesh gets the maximum amount at Rs 276.9 crore, followed by Madhya Pradesh Rs 226.87 crore and Maharashtra Rs 196 crore, an official statement said here today.

Other major beneficiaries included Andhra Pradesh (Rs 142.64 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 135.95 cr), Karnataka (Rs 104.83 cr) and Bihar (Rs 97.87 cr).

A mega scheme in the agriculture sector, NFSM was implemented in the 11th Five Year Plan with the target to raise rice production by 10 million tonnes, wheat by 8 million tonnes and pulses by 2 million tonnes.

The targets have been exceeded. In the 12th Plan, starting this year, NFSM aims at raising the foodgrain production by 25 million tonnes. Besides rice, wheat and pulses, NFSM proposes to cover coarse cereals and fodder crops during the 12th plan period (2012-17).

NFSM has taken a focussed approach to raise productivity of these crops through various location-specific interventions. These include providing incentives to farmers to adopt improved inputs and technology packages suiting local soil and climatic conditions.