MUMBAI, 05 Nov (Commoditiescontrol): Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Mr Pralhad Joshi, launched Phase II of Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice sales today, flagging off mobile distribution vans from NCCF, NAFED, and Kendriya Bhandar in the presence of Minister of State, Mr B.L. Verma. Under this phase, Bharat Atta will be available at ₹30 per kg and Bharat Rice at ₹34 per kg, aiming to make these staples more affordable for consumers nationwide.
Joshi highlighted that this initiative reaffirms the government’s commitment to ensuring essential food items reach consumers at accessible prices. "The Bharat brand has provided stability in the prices of essentials like rice, atta, and dal, helping maintain affordability," he stated.
Phase II will make 3.69 lakh metric tons (LMT) of wheat and 2.91 LMT of rice available for retail. Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice will be sold in 5 kg and 10 kg bags at Kendriya Bhandar, NAFED, NCCF outlets, mobile vans, and through major e-commerce platforms. Phase I of this initiative delivered 15.20 LMT of Bharat Atta and 14.58 LMT of Bharat Rice to consumers at subsidized prices.
Joshi also provided an update on paddy procurement in Punjab, reaffirming the government’s commitment to meeting the 184 LMT procurement target for the season. As of November 4, 2024, 104.63 LMT of paddy had arrived in Punjab mandis, with 98.42 LMT already purchased by state agencies and FCI at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,320 for Grade ‘A’ paddy. This procurement has benefited 5.38 lakh farmers, with ₹20,557 crores in MSP payments directly credited to their bank accounts.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91 98201 30172)