Executive Summary:
This document addresses concerns raised in Lok Sabha regarding India's foodgrain production versus its Global Hunger Index ranking. It outlines the government's acknowledgement of record foodgrain production (353.96 million tonnes in 2024-25) alongside malnutrition challenges. The document details steps taken, including the National Food Security Act and Mission Poshan 2.0, to ensure equitable distribution and improved nutrition, with free foodgrains extended for five years from January 1, 2024.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Foodgrain Production:**
* India achieved a record foodgrain production of 353.96 million tonnes in 2024-25 (Third Advance Estimates).
* This includes estimated production of 117.51 million tonnes of wheat and 149.07 million tonnes of rice.
* **Addressing Hunger and Malnutrition:**
* The Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys indicate a positive shift towards more nutritious food items.
* Approximately 80.56 crore beneficiaries receive free foodgrains across the country.
* **National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013:**
* Implemented across all States/UTs to supplement food requirements.
* Aims to cover up to 75% of the rural and up to 50% of the urban population based on the 2011 census (approximately 81.35 crore persons).
* Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.
* Priority Households (PHH) receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, free of cost.
* **Free Foodgrain Distribution Extension:**
* Free foodgrain distribution to AAY households and PHH beneficiaries extended for five years from January 1, 2024.
* Estimated financial outlay of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore, borne by the Central Government.
* **Quality Control:**
* A Quality Control Manual ensures uniform maintenance of foodgrain quality from procurement to distribution.
* Only foodgrains conforming to Food Safety Standards are issued.
* **Mission Poshan 2.0:**
* An integrated nutrition support program addressing malnutrition among children and women.
* Aims to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcomes.
* Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented across all States/UTs.
Impact Analysis:
* **Beneficiaries (AAY and PHH Households):**
* *Impact:* Continued access to free foodgrains, ensuring food security and reducing financial burden.
* *Action Required:* Register and avail themselves of the free foodgrain distribution through established channels.
* **State/UT Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing the NFSA and Mission Poshan 2.0 effectively.
* *Action Required:* Ensure proper distribution of foodgrains, maintain quality standards, and implement Mission Poshan 2.0 programs.
* **Department of Food and Public Distribution:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for formulating and issuing the Quality Control Manual and ensuring its implementation.
* *Action Required:* Maintain and enforce quality standards for foodgrains from procurement to distribution.
* **Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overall foodgrain production and addressing malnutrition in coordination with other ministries.
* *Action Required:* Continue efforts to increase foodgrain production and support initiatives like Mission Poshan 2.0.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
India: The country to which the policy applies; specifically mentioned in relation to foodgrain production and ranking in the Global Hunger Index.
Global Hunger Index 2024: An index that ranks countries based on levels of hunger and malnutrition; India's ranking in this index is a point of concern in the policy.
National Food Security Act, 2013: An Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to a large section of the population.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana: A scheme under the National Food Security Act, 2013 to provide food grains to the poorest of the poor households.
Priority Households: A category of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, entitled to subsidized food grains.
Mission Poshan 2.0: An integrated nutrition support programme implemented across all States and Union Territories of India, that seeks to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity from malnutrition
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3906
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2025
FOODGRAINS PRODUCTION
3906. SHRI NEERAJ MAURYA:
SHRI DEVESH SHAKYA:
Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state;
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that while India's total foodgrains production
is projected to reach a record level of about 354 million tonnes (comprising 117.5 million
tonnes of wheat and 149 million tonnes of rice) in 2025, on the other hand, India has been
ranked 105th out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2024, which falls in the
"Serious Category" (Score 27.3);
(b) whether this situation indicates that despite increase in foodgrain production its equitable
distribution, malnutrition elimination and access to proper nutrition are not being ensured;
and
(c) if so, the concrete and effective steps being taken by the Government to remove this
anomaly?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): As per the Third Advance Estimates for 2024-25, India has achieved record production
of foodgrains at 353.96 million tonnes which includes production of wheat and rice,
estimated at 117.51 million tonnes and 149.07 million tonnes, respectively.
There are many international organisations who come out with various indices from
time to time. However, the Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys conducted by
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, indicate that there has been a positive
shift of the food basket to include more of pulses, milk and milk products, fruits (dry) and
other protein-based fooditems as per the latest surveys conducted during the years 2022-
23 and 2023-24.
Moreover, the distribution of foodgrains across various income categories have
ensured that, at present about 80.56 crore beneficiaries get free foodgrains across the
country.
(b) & (c): To ensure equitable distribution, malnutrition elimination and access to proper
nutrition, the Government has taken several concrete and effective steps.
The National Food Security Act, 2013, is being implemented in all the States/UTs with
the aim to supplement the food requirements of up to 75% of the rural and up to 50% of the
urban population, which, according to the 2011 census, comes to around 81.35 crore persons.
While Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) households, which constitute the poorest of the poor,
are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month, Priority Households (PHH) are
entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, free of cost.The Central Government, in order to remove the financial burden of the poor
beneficiaries and to ensure nationwide uniformity and effective implementation of the
programme for support to the poor, had decided to provide food grains free of cost to AAY
households and PHH beneficiaries, beginning from 1st January 2023 under the NFSA. The
period for distribution of free of cost foodgrains has been extended for five years from
1st January, 2024, with an estimated financial outlay of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore totally to be borne
by the Central Government.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution has formulated and issued a Quality
Control Manual, to uniformly maintain the quality standards of foodgrains from procurement
to its distribution to the eligible beneficiaries. Only foodgrains conforming to Food Safety
Standards are issued through the various food security programs under the NFSA. The
coverage under the Act is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy
sections of the society get its benefit.
To address the challenges of malnutrition among children and women, the Government
is implementing Mission Poshan 2.0, an integrated nutrition support programme that seeks to
strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing
practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity from malnutrition. This Mission is a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented across all States/UTs.
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