Retail sale of rice, flour and pulses likely to resume from next month

17-Sep-2024 12:43 PM

New Delhi. The Central Government is likely to resume retail sale of rice, wheat flour and pulses under the Bharat brand from October.

It is worth mentioning that the government has already started retail sale of onions directly to consumers at the rate of Rs 35 per kg.

The prices of rice, flour and processed pulses are expected to rise in the festive demand phase in October, to control which the government can start its retail sale at a cheaper price.

It is understood that a decision to this effect was taken by a panel of Union Ministers last week and after this, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs will now decide to restart the process of retail sale of these products.

It is known that this ministry operates the Price Stabilization Fund Scheme. The Union Food Minister may give the green signal to start the process of retail sale in October.

Recently, when the sale of onions was started at a discounted price, the Food Minister himself had flagged off the mobile van.

According to informed sources, during this second phase, the maximum retail price of chana dal under the Bharat brand can be increased from Rs 60 per kg to Rs 70 per kg, but the price of moong dal is expected to be maintained at the old level of Rs 107 per kg. This time lentils are also likely to be included in the list of retail pulses, whose price can be fixed at Rs 89 per kg.

The decision to increase the maximum retail price (MRP) of Bharat rice and Bharat flour has already been taken.

According to informed sources, the MRP of rice has been fixed at Rs 340 per 10 kg and the MRP of flour at Rs 300 per 10 kg (bag).

In February, when the government started selling Bharat rice in 5 kg and 10 kg bags, its price was fixed at Rs 29 per kg.

Similarly, when the sale of Bharat flour started in November 2023, its MRP was fixed at Rs 27.50 per kg.