Power to declare famine and scarcity areas and to fix standard prices.

<span style="margin-left:15px;"></span>(<i>1</i>)The ¹[State] Government may, from time to time, by notification in the <i>Official Gazette</i>, declare that a state of famine or scarcity prevails in any local area ²[to which this Act extends;] and thereupon the said area shall be deemed to be a famine area or a scarcity area, as the case may be, for the purposes of this Act for such period as the ³[State] Government may direct.<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span>(<i>2</i>) On a declaration being made under sub-section (<i>1</i>), ⁴[State] Government may also by like notification declare that all contracts for the sale of fodder or grain of any kind entered into on or after the date specified in the notification shall be subject to the provisions of this Act.<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span>(<i>3</i>) The ⁵[State] Government may, by notification in the <i>Official Gazette</i>, fix a standard price for the sale of fodder or grain in any famine area or scarcity area or in such other area as may be specified in the notification.<br><br>