Pranab Mukherjee presides over last EGoM on food

NEW DELHI: With few days left before he files his nomination paper as UPA's presidential candidate, Pranab Mukherjee today presided over possibly his last empowered group of ministers ( EGoM) on foodgrains management.

Mukherjee, who heads two dozen odd GoMs and EGoMs, spoke about the record foodgrains production and procurement achieved this year, according official sources.

The Finance Minister also thanked EGoM members for cooperating in taking various key decisions such as clearing the Food Security Bill, lifting ban on wheat and rice exports and creation of additional storage capacity.

Food Minister K V Thomas, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Defence Minister A K Antony, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma were among other members present in the EGoM meeting.

The country has harvested a record 252 million tonnes of foodgrains for the second consecutive year in 2011-12 crop year (July-June).