States can buy rice from Food Corporation of India without participating in e-auction for Rs 2,800 per quintal under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic): Shri Pralhad Joshi

Newdelhi:1/8/24:Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi here today announced that grain deficient states can directly purchase from Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSS [D]) without participating in the e-auction from August 1^st, 2024. The decision has been taken to reduce the huge surplus of stocks before the commencement of the new procurement season.

Under the OMSS (D), the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, will directly offload grain to states for Rs 2,800 per quintal (excluding the cost of transportation).  Shri Joshi added that if the States/UTs want to procure more than the stipulated 5 kg of free grain per individual, then they can procure that at the same price at Rs 2,800 per quintal instead of the earlier Rs 2,900 per quintal. He also asserted that the sale of atta and rice under the ‘Bharat’ brand which was slated to run till June 30^th, 2024 will continue.

Speaking on the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), the Union Minister said that Centre has decided to continue to provide free food grains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries (i.e. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries) under the PMGKAY for five years with effect from January 1^st, 2024 with an estimated financial outlay of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore totally to be borne by Central Government. “It is the biggest ever and the largest food security programme,” said Shri Joshi. The food grain distributed in 2023-2024 is 497 LMT; up to June 2024, the Centre has distributed.

Shri Joshi also informed that ethanol production capacity has increased to 1589 crore litres per annum, to date which is sufficient to meet the domestic ethanol requirement of the country. With payment of about ₹ 1.05 lakh crores, more than 94.8% cane dues for the current sugar season have been cleared taking cane dues to the lowest level. He also added that in the interest of farmers, about 99.9% of 2021-22 sugar season cane dues have been cleared. For the previous sugar season 2022-23, against cane dues payable of Rs. 1,14,494 crores, about ₹ 1,14,235 crores have been paid & only Rs. 259 crore dues are to be paid. Thus, about 99.8% cane dues have been paid to farmers, Shri Joshi said. 125 LMT.