SHRI YADAV FOR SPONSORED MOVEMENT OF WHEAT BY FCI

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Shri Sharad Yadav, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has directed the FCI to spare sufficient number of rakes for moving wheat stocks to various states and union territories under sponsored movement. Such dedicated movement of wheat will be undertaken for the coming four months till the new crop arrives in the market. This step was taken to check any increase in the prices of wheat in the entire domestic market and also for making available sufficient quantity of wheat in all states in the country. It is expected that with movement of stocks for sale under open market sale scheme by FCI in addition to the regular movement of stocks for PDS as well as for other welfare schemes, the prices of wheat in the market would be maintained at reasonable level.

The total stocks of rice and wheat held by FCI and state agencies as on October 1, 2003 is 236.68 lakh tonnes comprising 52.41 lakh tonnes of rice and 184.27 lakh tonnes of wheat.