1.44 LMT wheat have been received in the last e-auction held on March 31, 2020

FCI (Food Corporation of India) has started conducting e-auction under Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS) for providing wheat to the empanelled roller flour mills/state government to ease the supply constraint in the market. In the last e-auction held on March 31, 2020, bids for 1.44 LMT wheat have been received.

In view of outbreak of Covid-19, apart from regular e-auction, District Magistrates/Collectors have been authorised to lift directly from FCI depots at OMSS reserve price to cater to the needs of Roller Flour Mills and other wheat product manufactures.

Till now, 79027 MT wheat has been allotted in the following states through this route: Further, e-auction for rice is also conducted. In the last e-auction on March 31, 2020, bids for 77000 MT rice have been received from the state of Telangana, Tamil Nadu, J&K and so on. In addition, considering the emergent situation, States have been allowed to take rice under OMSS @ Rs. 22.50/kg without participating in e-auction to meet any requirement over and above the NFSA allotment and additional allocation done under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana Allocation.

So far, 93387 Metric Tonne (MT) rice has been allotted to the following six states as per their requests. Food Corporation of India (FCI) is ensuring uninterrupted supply of wheat and rice throughout the country during the lockdown period. FCI is fully prepared to meet not only the food grain requirement under National Food Security Act (NFSA) @5 KG/Month/Beneficiary but also any additional demand including supply of 5Kg/Person for next three months to 81.35 crore people under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana.

As on March 31, 2020, FCI has 56.75 million MT (MMT) of food grains (30.7 MMT rice and 26.06 MMT wheat), according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

Even in this challenging operational environment, FCI can meet the increasing demand of food grains by gearing up the pace of supply of wheat and rice throughout the country mostly by rail. A total of 53 rakes are being loaded on April 1, 2020, carrying about 1.48 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) food grain stock. Since the day of lockdown i.e. March 24, 2020, FCI has moved 352 rakes carrying an approximate quantity of 9.86 LMT.