Pawar in Favour of FDI in Retail .

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today that was in favour of allowing foreign direct investment in the multi-brand retail sector, saying that it would help both farmers and consumers. He however also added that interests of lakhs of small kirana shops should not be ‘bypassed’ and the state governments should also be taken on board.

“FDI in the retail sector is definitely a good opportunity for the farming community to get a better price. Simultaneously, consumers will get some advantage. But there is another side also. In a country like India, where there are lakhs and lakhs of small shopkeepers, we just can’t bypass them,” Pawar said at the Economic Editors’ Conference here.

Pawar said he would like to discuss the matter with the state governments and the industry chambers so that all the stakeholders benefit from the move.

“I prefer to discuss the matter with state governments, merchant organisations. I prefer to find some amicable solutions which will possibly be in the interest of most people,” he said.

He also added that food grain procurement responsibility of the Centre would increase after the passing of the National Food Security Bill by Parliament.

Around 62.1 million tonnes (MT) of foodgrain would be required every year once legal entitlement of food for 75 per cent of the country’s population becomes a reality. He said he had only read about the National Advisory Council (NAC) recommendations in media and was yet to receive a formal communication. He said it would be ‘presumptive’ to say what shape the Act would finally take, according to some rough estimate prepared by his ministry after reading reports on NAC recommendations, around ‘62.1 million tonnes food grain’ would be required, he added. “What is our requirement, we will discuss it. We are awaiting a formal communication from them (the NAC). However, irrespective of the fine print, it is certain that our outgo from the Public Distribution System (PDS) will increase substantially from its current level once the Act is implemented,” the food, agriculture and consumer affairs minister said.

Pawar said with a record plantation of sugarcane he was confident of 250 lakh tonnes of production this sugar year that runs from October to September. This would be first time when India will have surplus production of sugar when there is a shortage the world-over, he added.

Source : tribuneindia.com