Government push to coarse cereals as climate change affects wheat, paddy cultivation

Category : Climate Change | Location : National  | Posted on 2022-09-02 06:08:52

Climate change has affected the production of wheat and paddy in the country, indicating a need to shift focus to coarse cereals. Cultivation of the two crops will not be enough to meet the country’s food needs due to erratic weather patterns, a senior central government official recently observed. 

The remark was not made by a climate scientist but by the secretary for the department of food and public distribution (DFPD) under the Centre, Sudhanshu Pandey. The observation indicated the central government has realised that depending on just wheat and rice to provide rations to the poor under the National Food Security Mission is not enough. There is a need to look for alternative food grains. 

The production of wheat has been low this Rabi season, indicating a crisis. However, a DFPD statement August 21, 2022, claimed the country has sufficient wheat stock to meet the domestic requirement.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/government-push-to-coarse-cereals-as-climate-change-affects-wheat-paddy-cultivation-84667