The elevation of KV Thomas as the new minister of state with independent charges for consumer affairs, food and public distribution comes at a times when the key procurement agency Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the food ministry is facing acute shortage of space for storing key food grains like rice and wheat.
According to food ministry data at the beginning of month, FCI has more than 47.1 million tonne of rice and wheat which is far above strategic reserve and buffer stocks norms. With the wheat procurement slated to start in April, FCI needs to add additional storage facilities with a shortest possible of time so that food grains wastage is minimised.
Thomas?s task would be to expand storage capacity through private sector participation. With the proposed National Food Security Act is on unveil, the increase in FCI storage space to help government in expanding its procurement drives for rice, wheat and sugar.
Besides, plugging loop holes in the implementation of Targetted Public Distribution System (TPDS) would another challenging areas for the Thomas.
With the rising prices of agricultural commodities in the recent months, Thomas would also have to monitore the prices movements of key agricultural commodities so that in case of rise in prices, measures for controlling it could be initiated quickly.
Thomas was elevated after veteran current agriculture minister Sharad Pawar sheds the portfolio of consumer affairs and food and civil supplies, retains agriculture and gets food processing industries.