Guwahati: The centre on Monday launched subsidised flour (Atta) under the brand name Bharat Atta at least 20% less than branded or local flour available in the open market.
Branded or unbranded atta in the market is priced anywhere between Rs 32 and Rs 45 per kg whereas Bharat Atta will be sold at government outlets at Rs 27.50 per kg.
Although Assam and other states in the Northeast are known to be rice-consuming states, rapid urbanisation has led to changing food habits, experts feel. The subsidised atta will, therefore, benefit the region also.
The subsidised flour will be available in stores run by Kendriya Bhandar, NAFED (National Agricultural Co-Operative Marketing Federation Of India Limited), NCCF (National Coperative Consumers’ Federation Limited) and government cooperative outlets as well as food vans run by NAFED and NCCF, a central government press release said.
Approximately a quarter of a million tonnes of state-owned wheat will be distributed to these agencies across the country to ensure a consistent supply of subsidized wheat flour.
Previously, the price of flour sold at Kendriya Bhandar was Rs29.50 which will now drop by another Rs 2.
NAFED State head, Souradip Mondal told Business North East that in Assam, Bharat Atta will be distributed through co-operative societies, retailers, mobile vans, and various retail points.
“To ensure the success of such initiatives, a temporary store has been set up in front of NAFED Regional office in Guwahati, and millers and distributors have been encouraged to promote Bharat Atta actively,” said Mondal.
The nationwide rollout of Bharat Atta will be a phased process. NAFED is identifying flour mills for wheat processing and distribution under OMSS (D) Scheme of GoI. Once processed, the wheat will be supplied to Food Corporation of India (FCI) state offices, who will then distribute packets to the designated agencies, he said.
While wheat production is on the rise at the national level, the agricultural area dedicated to wheat in Assam has seen fluctuations over the years. The state has witnessed a decline in wheat cultivation from 0.020 million hectares in 2019 to 0.010 million hectares in 2020. In 2018-19, Assam reported a state-level wheat production of 1,398 metric tons with a productivity of 23,693 kg/ha. In contrast, the national average yield of wheat grain ranges from 12 to 13.8 quintals per hectare.
The major wheat-growing districts in Assam include Morigaon in the central Brahmaputra valley zone and Barpeta in the lower Brahmaputra valley zone, as per government statistics.
From 2001 to 2020, Assam's average wheat cultivation area was 0.050 million hectares, with a wheat productivity of 1,117 kg/ha. This resulted in a total wheat cultivation area of 33,900 thous and a production of 44,200 tonnes. Additionally, the government of India supplies 18,000 metric tonnes of wheat every month to Assam as part of the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Earlier the centre also decided to sell onions at a reduced rate of Rs25 per kg as prices rose to Rs60 per kg after Durga Puja. Earlier, the government launched Bharat Dal at Rs60 per kg and are doing the same with onions.
"Bharat Dal has been responding quite well in the markets of Assam and the consumers have turned up in plenty", Mondal added. "A total of six-seven tonnes of Bharat Dal is supplied to the markets of Guwahati on daily basis", Mondal added.
Onions are sold through mobile vans at various locations. In Assam, the onions at government rates are sold at Six Mile, Basistha Bazar, Beltola Bazar, Ganeshguri, Dispur Last Gate, Ulubari Bazar, Uzan Bazar, Chandmari Bazar, Pandu Bazar, Maligaon Bazar, Noonmati Bazar and Hengerabari in Guwahati through mobile vans from 8am to 10 and from 4pm onwards in the evening, said a letter circulated by the FPD&CA department of Kamrup (Metro) district.
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