Government has launched the second phase of subsidized Bharat Brand wheat and rice sales across India

Effort to make essential food items more affordable, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Pralhad Joshi, launched the second phase of subsidized retail sales for Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice. As part of the initiative, mobile vans were flagged off in collaboration with NCCF, NAFED, and Kendriya Bhandar to distribute Bharat Atta, priced at Rs. 30 per kg, and Bharat Rice, priced at Rs. 34 per kg, to consumers.

Phase-II of Retail Sales:

The government’s initiative aims to keep food prices under control despite inflation. Under the Bharat Brand, products such as wheat, rice, and pulses will be sold to consumers at affordable prices. These items will be available through mobile vans, Kendriya Bhandar stores, major retail outlets, and online platforms. Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice will be sold in 5 kg and 10 kg packs.

For Phase-II, the government has made 3.69 lakh metric tons (LMT) of wheat and 2.91 LMT of rice available for retail sale. During Phase-I, around 15.20 LMT of Bharat Atta and 14.58 LMT of Bharat Rice were provided to the public at subsidized rates.

Paddy Procurement to Support Farmers:

Addition to controlling food prices, the government is also focused on supporting farmers. The target for paddy procurement in Punjab for the 2024-25 Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) has been set at 184 LMT. As of now, 104.63 LMT of paddy has arrived at the mandis, and 98.42 LMT has already been purchased by government agencies, including the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Grade 'A' paddy has been set at Rs. 2320 per quintal, and a total of Rs. 20,557 crores has been paid to farmers, benefiting 5.38 lakh farmers. These payments have been directly credited to their bank accounts.

This combined effort of subsidized food sales and large-scale paddy procurement demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring affordable food for consumers while providing fair prices for farmers, contributing to both food security and the stability of farmers' incomes.

Read More... Wheat Prices Soar: Significant Increase Ahead of Diwali, impact household budgets