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Food Security Bill Can Feed Its People, Says Sonia Gandhi

In response to skepticism about sufficient resources, Sonia Gandhi responds that feeding India’s people is not a question of how, it is a must. http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/food-security-bill-india-can-feed-its-people-says-sonia-gandhi_871758.html

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Lok Sabha Passes Food Bill

The lower house of the Indian national assembly approved the ambitious and controversial National Food Security Bill on Monday, August 26th, 2013, after nine hours of debate. If made law, the legislation will legally entitle 67% of the population to receive subsidized grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lok-sabha-passes-food-security-bill/article5062126.ece  

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The Food Security Bill Takes Us Back to the 1970s as Lessons of History Are Ignored

“The passage of the Food Security Bill in the Lok Sabha is reminiscent of the early 1970s, when the simultaneous left-right lurch ended with the economy contracting by the end of the decade and subsequent help from the IMF.” http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-28/edit-page/41499945_1_food-security-bill-finance-minister-open-defecation

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Food Security a ‘Historic Opportunity’ or Mere ‘Vote Security’?

“Opposition party, BJP, labeled the bill more as “Vote security” than food security, but stopped short of opposing it.” http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/food-security-a-historic-opportunity-or-mere-vote-security-113082600926_1.html

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Using ICT to Enhance Marketing for Small Agricultural Producers

This USAID briefing paper serves to identify appropriate and effective information communication technologies (ICT) for agricultural value chain interventions. Relevant topics discussed include marketing, traceability, production management and data analytics, value addition, technical literacy, gender dynamics, and others. http://agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/Using_ICT_to_Enhance_Marketing_for_Small_Agricultural_Producers.pdf

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746.07 Lakh Tonne Storage Capacity for Implementation of Food Security Bill

Indian Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution stated that a combination of Food Corporation of India and state agency storage facilities equates to 746 lakh tonnes of storage capacity, enough to cover the estimated Food Security Act annual requirement of 614 lakh tonnes of grain. The Minister also discussed implementation of the Private […]

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India Prepares to Guarantee Right to Food for 800 Million People

The National Food Security Act is heavily criticized by policymakers and academics who disagree with the decision to expand a grain program already riddled with fraud and waste. In India, it is widely known that about 40% of grain in the supply chain doesn’t reach its intended end, instead rotting in storage, eaten by rodents, […]

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Two Millers Under Scanner for ‘Missing’ Paddy Worth Rs. 3 cr

Two rice millers in Punjab, India allegedly misappropriated government paddy worth more than Rs 30 million. Cases of fraud have been filed against the owners of two mills, and are under investigation by special police. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Bathinda/Two-millers-under-scanner-for-missing-paddy-worth-Rs-3-cr/SP-Article1-1108222.aspx  

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Asia Works on Regional Rice Stragey to Address Changing Conditions

Rice exports from Asia continue to increase in line with demand from markets in Africa and the Middle East. The FAO, in collaboration with the World Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank, will develop a regional strategy that addresses production efficiency, postharvest losses, trade patterns, nutrition, and eating habits, among other topics. The report […]

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Harnessing Postharvest Handling Gains

A trade specialist says the lack of observation of modern postharvest handling practices in Uganda is a serious challenge for the grain industry, which must ensure quality to remain competitive. Experts call for an enforceable grain policy to mitigate the physical and revenue losses incurred by poor practices such as ground drying and improper pest […]

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