States can directly buy rice from the Food Corporation of India at Rs 2,800 per quintal without participating in the e-auction if they need it for their welfare schemes, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday.The Centre last year did not provide rice to states because of apprehensions of lower output in view of poor monsoon rains. Karnataka had demanded rice last year for its welfare scheme but the request was rejected.
In June 2023, the Centre discontinued the sale of rice and wheat from the central pool under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to state governments.
Addressing a press conference here, Joshi said, “States can directly buy rice from central pool at Rs 2800 per quintal. They do not need to participate in the e-auction process.”
The food grain distributed in 2023-24 stood at 497 lakh tonnes and 125 lakh tonnes up to June in this fiscal.
Joshi also informed that ethanol production capacity has increased to 1589 crore litres per annum, which is sufficient to meet domestic ethanol requirement of the country.
With payment of about Rs 1.05 lakh crores, more than 94.8 per cent sugarcane dues for the current 2023-24 sugar season have been cleared taking cane dues to the lowest level, he said.
On One Nation One Ration Card, Joshi noted that Rs 145 crore portability transactions have been carried out nationwide till date. A total of 293 lakh tonnes of food grains to the food law beneficiaries either inter-state or intra-state have been carried out.
The food grain distributed in 2023-24 stood at 497 lakh tonnes and 125 lakh tonnes up to June in this fiscal.
Joshi also informed that ethanol production capacity has increased to 1589 crore litres per annum, which is sufficient to meet domestic ethanol requirement of the country.
With payment of about Rs 1.05 lakh crores, more than 94.8 per cent sugarcane dues for the current 2023-24 sugar season have been cleared taking cane dues to the lowest level, he said.