The Centre is geared up to face a deficient monsoon and to keep under check the prices of essential commodities, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference on one year of his ministry, Mr. Singh said the government had enough stock of foodgrains and pulses. Forecast of monsoon deficiency this kharif has raised concerns about farm production.
Mr. Singh said the government had a Price Stabilisation Fund from which money had been given to some States to stock up on pulses and onion and intervene in the market when required.
The fund has an estimated corpus of Rs. 500 crore.
Land BillAsked about the controversial Land Acquisition Bill, Mr Singh said “not an inch” would be given to private players, and lashed out at the Congress for giving away farmers’ land at throwaway prices to “suited booted” people and “kith and kin.”
The Minister said the fisheries and dairying sector had grown by about 5.5 per cent in the last year although the overall agriculture growth rate was hit on account of losses in food production from deficient monsoon in kharif and unseasonal rain and hail in rabi.
