Adequate stocks of wheat and rice in the country: Pawar

New Delhi, Dec 4 : Despite drought during Kharif season in 13 states and floods in some states, the food security situation in the country was manageable, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said during Question Hour that with high levels of production of rice and wheat during last season and resultant comfortable stocks, the food security situation in the country is manageable.

Though droughts during the Kharif season in 13 states and subsequent floods in some states have resulted in sizeable reduction in production of foodgrains during Kharif 2009, however, there are adequate stocks of rice and what in the country to meet the requirement, Mr Pawar added.

He said the Government had taken several steps to sustain high food production in the country.

''Government has taken timely and effective measures to minimise losses in crop production during Kharif season, maximise the production during the succeeding Rabi season, augment availability in the domestic market and ensure access of poor households to required food,''he asserted.

--UNI