Sale of flour and rice with Bharat brand started again with increased price

06-Nov-2024 03:34 PM

New Delhi. The Union Minister of Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution on 5 November 2024 launched the second phase of sale of flour and rice under the Bharat brand name.

This flour and rice will be retailed at a pre-determined price by three cooperative agencies - NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandaar. Its highest retail price has been increased for the second phase as compared to the first phase.

In the first phase, the retail price of wheat flour was fixed at Rs 27.50 per kg, which has been increased to Rs 30 per kg in the second phase.

Similarly, the retail price of Bharat rice has been increased from Rs 29 per kg to Rs 34 per kg. These products will be sold in packs of 5 kg and 10 kg. It will be made available to consumers through cooperative agencies as well as e-commerce platforms.

Due to the second phase, a stock of 3.69 lakh tonnes of wheat and 2.91 lakh tonnes of rice has been allocated at present. Its stock has been allocated from the warehouses of Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The first phase started from October 2023 and ended in June 2024. The second phase started from November 5 and is likely to continue till at least the allocated stock is sold. During the first phase, 15.20 lakh tonnes of flour and 14.58 lakh tonnes of rice were distributed.

The interesting fact is that despite the high market price, less rice was sold during the first phase. According to the Food Minister, the objective of the government was not to do business but only to provide relief to the common consumers and control the rise in prices.

If necessary, the sale of flour and rice can also be considered in small packs. The increase in the retail selling price of government flour and rice clearly indicates that its price is running very high in the open market.