IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE

Food policy experts say since the food basket is being largely ignored ( only wheat and rice will be given under the Food Security Bill), we are pushing our agriculture sector towards a cerealbased economy. Farmers will be adversely impacted as they focus on these crops alone. Also, as Government is the prime procurer and distributor of foodgrain, the bill will make prices volatile. P. K. Joshi, director, South Asia, IFPRI, explains: “The bill will also distort markets of rice, wheat and coarse cereals. In areas where these are not procured, farmers will be affected as prices are likely to fall due to low issue prices. It