Food stocks at public storages declined over the past two months from the peak of nearly 20 lakh tonnes in mid-February this year amid increased distribution under various social protection programmes.
Public food distribution, including under open market sales and fair price programme, jumped 36 per cent year-on-year to 23.67 lakh tonnes in the July-March period of the current fiscal year, according to the food ministry data.
As a result, rice and wheat stock at the state depots dropped to 14.92 lakh tonnes as of April 12. Yet this was over three times higher than the 4.72 lakh tonnes recorded on the same day a year ago.
Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, secretary to the food ministry, said public stocks would increase in the coming months as the ministry was set to start procuring paddy and rice in the Boro harvesting…
