Central-pool rice stocks hit highest level in 2 decades

Grains collected three times buffer at 35.48 MT on July 1

- SANDIP DAS

THE GOVERNMENT'S RICE stocks have soared to 37.48 million tonne (MT), the highest level in the last two decades, and over three times the buffer as of July 1.

The stocks accumulation is primarily because of higher procurement for the free ration scheme.

Current rice stocks exclude 19.89 MT of grain yet to be received from millers. The prescribed buffer for July 1 is 13.54 MT.