Seeks states’ help in raising productivity, strengthening PDS.
Union minister for agriculture and food, Sharad Pawar, on Sunday downplayed the attack against him by by members of the Congress Working Committee and other parties for the rise in food inflation.
In an interview with Business Standard, Pawar said the surge in food inflation and other rises in prices was due to global as well as local factors, including drought in several states. He said the Centre had taken a slew of measures to overcome these. And the farmaers a tlarge have benefitted from the decision to raise the minimum support price for rice and wheat.
He welcomed the unanimous view of central and state govrnmebnts at yesterday’s meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in New Delhi that there was an urgent need to increase agri-productivity and to streamline the public distribution system (PDS).
A section of the Congres party has been holding Pawar responsible for the present situation. It also argued that he should not be in charge of both the departments of agriculture and consumer affairs, on the ground of conflict of interests. Congress members have also called for restraining Pawar from making statements which may fuel any rise in prices.
Pawar addressed emmebrs of his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at Aurangabad today and advised them to ignore the criticism against him. Maharashtra home minister R R Patil, also from the NCP, had declared that party ministers in the Congress-led government were prepared to resign if the criticism of Pawar did not abate.
Pawar said he could understand the problems faced by sections affected by the price rise. He said a core group headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and including him would make recommendations to increase producivity, reduce the gap between farmgate and retail prices and allied issues.
He said: “The Centre has already taken a slew of measures and similar steps have been adopted by states. However, there is unanimity that production and productivity will have to be increased to meet the rising demand and states will have to become more proactive."
States with low productivity, he said, would have to stress research and adopt better agriculture practices. Centre and states would have to collaborate to raise the productivity in the animal husbandry and fisheries sector, too.
On the PDS, Pawar praised Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra for streamlining it. He said other states need to do more to increase the availability of essential commodities and provide targeted subsidies. "There is an urgent need to step up efforts to curb hoarding and diversion of commodities. States can do it by an effective implementation of the Essential Commodities Act and the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act," he added.
