Now, rice to feed welfare programmes

In August, one million tonnes of rice would substitute wheat in the public distribution system through food-for-work and other welfare schemes, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today.

The decision has been taken as rice stocks have increased substantially but not that of wheat. Pawar, stating there was no need to import wheat added that sowing was going on well in all parts of the country except Jharkhand and Marathwada which received deficit rainfall this year.