The authorities is ready to offload further 2.5 million tonnes of FCI wheat to bulk shoppers throughout January-March 2024, under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS), in order to enhance home provide and verify worth rise, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra stated on Friday.
In May this yr, the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the federal government’s nodal company for procurement and distribution of grains, was given a mandate to promote wheat from the central pool to bulk shoppers via an e-auction under OMSS all through the fiscal besides throughout procurement interval in wheat rising states.
Briefing the media, the Food Secretary stated to date 4.46 million tonnes has been offloaded by FCI to processors via weekly e-auctions.
“This has increased availability of wheat into the open market at affordable prices, benefitting general consumers across the country,” Mr. Chopra stated.
Depending on the requirement, the Secretary stated, “Additional 2.5 million tonnes can be offloaded under OMSS during January-March of 2024.” In an extra step to improve provides in the open market, it had been determined to improve the weekly amount being supplied via e-auction by FCI, from 3 lakh tonnes to 4 lakh tonnes with rapid impact. This would additional improve wheat availability in the open market, he added.
For sale of wheat flour under ‘Bharat Atta’ model at a subsidised charge, the Secretary stated the amount had been elevated from 2.5 lakh tonnes to 4 lakh tonnes until January-end of 2024, he added.
The FCI was issuing wheat to central co-operative organisations like NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar for processing into atta and on the market under ‘Bharat Atta’ model via their bodily/cell retailers, at an reasonably priced worth of ₹27.50/kg, he stated.
The allocations to NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar had been being reviewed periodically to guarantee adequate availability, he stated.
Areas the place costs had been reigning larger had been recognized, and the companies had been endeavor focused gross sales in these areas, he added.
The Secretary stated the federal government was sustaining a detailed watch over the inventory place of wheat to management costs and ensured straightforward availability in the nation.
Besides releasing FCI inventory in the open market, different measures the federal government had taken to improve home availability and comprise worth rise embrace tightening inventory limits on wheat merchants and banning export since May 2022.
