The Government of India’s Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) held a crucial meeting today with Food Secretaries from various States and Union Territories to review foodgrain procurement plans for the upcoming marketing seasons. The meeting, chaired by the Secretary of DFPD, emphasized the need for a proactive approach to maximize the procurement of wheat and Rabi paddy to ensure food security and stabilize the public distribution system.
Discussions revolved around key factors influencing procurement, including weather forecasts, production estimates, and the preparedness of states to handle procurement operations efficiently. After thorough deliberations, the wheat procurement target for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025-26 was set at 310 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). Similarly, paddy procurement for the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25 (Rabi crop) was fixed at 70 LMT in terms of rice.
Recognizing the importance of crop diversification and nutritional security, states were also encouraged to enhance the procurement of coarse grains, including millets, under the government’s initiative to promote “Shri Anna.” An estimated 16 LMT of these nutrient-rich grains are expected to be procured during the upcoming KMS 2024-25 (Rabi crop).
The meeting also addressed various policy reforms and technological advancements aimed at improving the efficiency of the food distribution system. Discussions covered the proposed changes to the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) Control Order, the implementation of SMART PDS, e-KYC processes, and the establishment of Jan Poshan Kendras to enhance nutrition outreach. Additionally, the importance of optimizing procurement infrastructure was underscored, with a special focus on improving procurement centers and ensuring the effective utilization of godowns built by Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) under India’s ambitious grain storage expansion plan.
State representatives shared best practices in foodgrain management, with Telangana presenting its successful initiatives in streamlining food distribution. Similarly, Gujarat highlighted its automation-driven supply chain optimization in the Public Distribution System (PDS), showcasing how technology can be leveraged to improve efficiency and transparency.
A significant point of discussion was the initiative on pledge financing against electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (e-NWRs), as presented by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA). This move is expected to provide farmers with greater financial flexibility and access to credit, reducing their dependency on distress sales.
The meeting saw the participation of senior officials from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), WDRA, the India Meteorological Department, and the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Their collaborative insights aimed at strengthening food security measures and supporting farmers across the country.
With these proactive steps and cooperative efforts between the central and state governments, the focus remains on ensuring a smooth procurement process, safeguarding farmers’ interests, and fortifying India’s public distribution system to benefit millions of citizens.
