Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, has reiterated the need for greater exports of agricultural commodities so that the benefits of higher global food prices are passed on to farmers.“Global food prices are ruling at a higher level and we must export food items aggressively for taking advantage of higher prices,” he said. Calling for higher production of pulses and oilseeds as large chunk of domestic demands are met through imports, he stated that imports are going to be expensive in the coming years because of rising trend in food prices.
He supported the idea of cash transfer to economically weaker sections of population in places of foodgrains as it would reduce pilferage.
“About the cash transfer (of subsidy), the accusation is that you want to dismantle the PDS. This is completely wrong because there is no question of dismantling the minimum support prices,” Mr. Montek noted. The Government would continue the public procurement of grains like wheat and paddy and sell it without subsidy through PDS, while the food subsidy would be transferred directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries to plug leakages.
“I think that if we succeed in the economic growth target, that we have set ourselves, then per capita income of the country will be doubled in 10 years”.
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