The rift between the food and agriculture ministries over the Food Security Bill and other issues concerning the food economy is well known but the two ministers still rarely lose the opportunity to undermine each other. This was well in evidence during a recent meeting of state food and agriculture ministers to discuss grain procurement, production and distribution. In his welcome address, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar took care to mention the name of his ministry’s secretary before that of the food ministry’s. And Food Minister K V Thomas returned the compliment by naming his ministry’s secretary before the agriculture ministry’s. Coincidence or protocol? Whatever the reason, a joint press conference called by the two ministers was reduced to an address only by Thomas; Pawar inexplicably failed to find time to attend.