Agencies
New Delhi, Apr 21:
The Union government on Monday directed four states including the government of Madhya Pradesh, to import wheat from the global market to meet about half of their foodgrain requirements under the TPDS and welfare schemes.
"Given the low procurement of wheat for the central pool during 2007 and high demand for white/domestic wheat received, the state governments of the four states were directed to import wheat from international market as per their choice from March to May 2008," Minister of State for Agriculture Akhilesh Prasad Singh told Lok Sabha in a written reply.
The Andhra Pradesh and Kerala governments were also asked to consider import of wheat from the global market, he said. The minister said a subsidy, equal to the level of what would have been given to Food Corporation of India for import of wheat during March-May, would be reimbursed by the Centre. Minister of State for Agriculture Kantilal Bhuria, in a written reply, said climate change may reduce the wheat productivity in north-west region of the country.
"Studies based on simulation models have indicated that in future due to increasing temperature and possible reduction in availability of irrigation associated with global climate change could cause considerable loss of wheat yields in north-western India," Bhuria said in the Lok Sabha.
He denied receiving any recommendation from National Agricultural Research Institute for changing the sowing timing to mitigate the effects of climate change.
"The institute has not recommended change in the time of sowing of wheat at present due to climate change. However, research indicates that changing the time of planting is an important adaptation strategy in future and could be utilised to reduce the negative effects of climate change," he said.
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