National Conference of Food Ministers in New Delhi Tomorrow, Sugar-Ethanol Portal to be Launched

The Department of Food and Public Distribution, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, is set to organize the 'National Conference of Food Ministers' on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, in New Delhi. The conference aims to develop an action plan for the procurement of coarse grains during the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24.

It will also provide a platform for discussing key initiatives undertaken by the government to ensure effective implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), disseminate best practices from various States and Union Territories, and strengthen the focus on food and nutritional security.

Leading the conference as the chairperson will be the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Commerce & Industry, and Textiles, Piyush Goyal. The event will also be graced by the presence of Union Ministers of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and Ashwini Kumar Choubey, as well as Ministers of Food & Civil Supplies from States and Union Territories.

The highlight of the conference will be the launch of the sugar-ethanol portal by Piyush Goyal. Additionally, several important agenda points will be discussed, including the implementation of SMART-PDS (Public Distribution System), supply chain optimization, grading of procurement centers, and the transformation of Fair Price Shops (FPSs). The conference aims to address the challenges and opportunities in achieving the transformation of the food and nutrition security ecosystem in the country. It will set the roadmap for the year 2023-24, focusing on strategies to further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the system.

Over the past nine years, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has implemented numerous initiatives to ensure the targeted and timely delivery of food grains to the poor and vulnerable sections of society. The recent implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) since January 1, 2023, has further strengthened the provision of free food grains to nearly 80 crore beneficiaries.

These initiatives have significantly improved the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), enhancing its efficiency and reach. To sustain this progress and continue improving the system, the Department plans to introduce new initiatives that will further enhance efficiency and strengthen the focus on food and nutritional security.

The conference will bring together Food Ministers and Food Secretaries from States and Union Territories across the country. It aims to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing to foster the overall development of the food and civil supplies sector.

The event will provide a platform for participants to exchange ideas, insights, and best practices, enabling the enhancement of the functioning of the food and civil supplies sector. Discussions will cover crucial topics such as the procurement of coarse grains/millets, grading of procurement centers, effective implementation of PMGKAY, implementation of SMART-PDS, the launch of the sugar-ethanol portal, rice fortification, and various other significant subjects.