Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the food grain production in the country has increased by 44 per cent over the past ten years. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha today, Mr Chouhan said, the country has achieved a new milestone in food grain production reaching 357 million tonnes. He said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi several agricultural reforms and policies have been brought to benefit farmers as well as to increase foodgrain production.

The Minister informed that India has surpassed China to become the world’s largest producer of rice. He said, Pulse production has also increased significantly, rising from over 19 million tonnes to around 26 million tonnes.

Mr Chouhan said, Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana has been implemented in 100 districts across the country to ensure balanced growth in food grain production. He said, the government of West Bengal has not implemented this scheme. The Minister said, four districts of the state – Purulia, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Jhargram were selected under the programme to help farmers and increase production.

Mr Chouhan said, the Centre has provided fertilizer subsidies worth 1.86 lakh crore rupees last year to keep fertilizers affordable for farmers.