To kick-start the ambitious National Food Security Act, the food ministry has urged all state governments to open more foodgrain purchasing centres, as the Act will require about 10 million tonnes of more wheat and rice than the average procurement of last five years.

According to an official statement, a meeting of state food secretaries has also been called in the second week of February by the Centre to review arrangements for procurement of wheat for the coming marketing season and other

infrastructure requirements.

India’s foodgrain requirement is expected to rise to around 61.2 million tonnes against the average procurement of last five years at 51.4 million tonnes.

“The estimated marketable surplus of wheat for each state and the estimated procurement of wheat will also be discussed in the meeting,” the statement added.

Under the Food Act, the government has now decided to provide assistance to states in meeting the expenditure incurred by them on transportation of foodgrain within the state, its handling and margin of ration shop owners according to the norms.