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National Food Security Mission takes off

NEW DELHI: With the release of the first instalment of funds this year, the National Food Security Mission has taken off, according to Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. It aims at increasing production of rice by 10 million tonnes, wheat by eight million tonnes and pulses by two million tonnes in the next four years.

The Mission executive committee met last month to approve the annual action plans of the States concerned. Following that, ground-level activity started for the winter cropping season, Mr. Pawar told the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry on Thursday.

The Rs. 4,882-crore scheme was launched recently following a resolution adopted at a special meeting of the National Development Council on agriculture. The Mission was launched in 305 districts in 16 States — Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. These districts had potential for high rise in productivity.

The strategy was to bridge yield gaps by introducing modern technologies and improved agronomic practices.

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