Rising food grain stocks: Govt mulls hike in BPL quotas, open market sale

Food ministry holds meeting of all stakeholders to mull options for liquidating food grain stocks which currently at a six-year high of 74 million tonnes, lying with FCI

With food grain stocks held by state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the central pool hit a six- year high, the government plans to increase allocations to below-poverty-line (BPL) families and raise the open market sale scheme (OMSS) to liquidate inventory.

Informed sources said that the Union Ministry of Food convened a meeting of all stakeholders, including officials from the Union Ministry of Finance and Union Ministry of Agriculture, to consider options for liquidating food grain stocks, which currently stand at a six-year high if 74 million tonnes, under FCI’s management.

A few participants suggested an increase in allocations