CCEA seeks secretaries' committee views on doubling FCI buffer stock

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today referred to the committee of secretaries a proposal to double state-run Food Corporation of India’s buffer stock limit to 53 million tonnes of foodgrains a year.

“The CCEA has referred the proposal to revise the buffer stock norm of foodgrains in the central pool to a committee,” Food Minister KV Thomas said.

The committee of secretaries (CoS) will critically examine the food ministry’s proposal to allow FCI to maintain up to 53 million tonnes of foodgrain stocks in a year to implement the food security law.

The revision has been proposed keeping in mind the likely increase in the sale of foodgrains under the public distribution system with the implementation of the National Food Security Act. The law entitles 67 percent of the country’s population to subsidised foodgrains.

According to existing norms, the FCI can maintain a maximum foodgrain stock of 26 million tonnes. The limit has not been revised since April 2005.

Thomas also said the CCEA deferred a decision on a separate ministry proposal to allocate extra foodgrains to states to meet demand during festivals and natural calamities.

The CCEA approved the agriculture ministry’s proposal on implementation of the national programme for bovine breeding and dairy development during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, he added.

PTI