Globally 30 percent of the food produced never reaches to a human stomach (FAO, 2021). Tackling food loss and waste benefits the climate, food security, and sustainability of agri-food systems. India suffers
Production surged 10 million tonnes to 227.32 million tonnes in 2007-08. After a near-stagnation or modest growth in output for several years, Indian agriculture is reckoned officially to have rebound in 2007-08 with foodgrain production surging by 10 million tonnes, or 4.6 per cent, to touch a new high of 227.32 million tonnes. The grain output in 2006-07 was 217.28 million tonnes. The year's grain output growth of 4.6 per cent is nearly four times the average annual growth of 1.2 per cent between 1990 and 2007.
World's breadbasket faces food crisis Food Shortages, An Unthinkable Phenomenon In US, Have Hit Many Parts Of The Country Mountain View (California): Many parts of America, long considered the breadbasket of the world, are now confronting a once unthinkable phenomenon: food rationing. Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks, the New York Sun reported on Monday.
The scorching sun has been beating down on parched farmlands in Malda, sucking the waterbodies dry and causing the groundwater level to plummet. Officials in the district agriculture department fear huge crop losses if it does not rain in the next few days. The four blocks of Old Malda, Bamungola, Gajole and Habibpur are already facing severe drinking water shortage. Standing boro paddy and jute stalks are wilting in the searing heat.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today directed all the DCs to examine the reasons of burning of wheat crop in the state and report immediately to departments concerned. According to an official spokesman, Badal directed that in case of fire affecting standing crops due to spark in the electric wires passing through the fields or any other reason, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) and Revenue Department must be informed immediately for release of adequate compensation to the farmers.
Even under adverse conditions, Punjab farmers have produced bumper crop Farmers of the state epitomise the true Punjabi spirit. Producing bumper crop year after year and surpassing national average have become a habit for Punjab, right from the days of Green Revolution. Punjab alone produces nearly 20 per cent of the entire country's wheat. The spirit and the hard work put in by the Punjab farmers have firmed up country's food security even under adverse conditions of inclement weather, militancy, diseases, pest attacks or drought.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given directives to the concerned departments for proper transportation and storage of wheat crop. The CM emphasised that it is necessary to procure maximum quantity of wheat on support price for ensuring success of Annapurna yojna. Under this scheme wheat is being supplied at the rate of Rs 3 per kg to poor families from fair price shops. The CM is concerned over facilities to farmers at mandis.
Giving a rosy picture of things to come that should quell doubts about food security of the country, the agriculture ministry today said the country would have a record all-time production in wheat, rice, oilseeds, pulses, cotton, soya bean and even coarse cereals during 2007-08. The Third Advance Estimates of production of major crops grown in the country, released by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, suggested that food grain production in the current fiscal had touched a record 227.32 MT.
As Union commerce minister Kamal Nath studies India's negotiation dockets in preparation for a mid-May World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meet in Geneva, a sort of last-ditch attempt to strike a Doha Round deal before a change of US leadership, some voices have emerged in favour of softening the country's stance on farm sector issues.
Egypt is to review its food subsidy system as it seeks ways to tackle rising inflation, which reached 14.2 per cent in March. Youssef Boutros-Ghali, finance minister, told the Financial Times that the government would look to raise additional revenues through new taxes or increasing existing taxes. However, he said corporate taxes, which were reduced in recent years as part of wider economic reforms, would not be altered, adding that no tariffs that impacted "on profit and production" would be increased.
Punjab farmers are reaping the benefits of bumper crop this year. Wheat procurement in Ropar and Kharar has exceeded the figure achieved last season. In Ropar, the procurement is 66 per cent more than the last season, while in Kharar the figure stands at 117 per cent. In the Ropar market, the state and central agencies have procured 33,001 tonnes of wheat in the first 21 days of its arrival, while this figure was 19,786 tonnes last season. Morinda has registered 11,225 tonnes followed by Anandpur Sahib at 4,319 tonnes, Ropar at 4,124 tonnes and Chamkaur Sahib at 1,333 tonnes.
