Rice traders in India must disclose stocks starting next Friday: Food secretary

Rice traders in India must disclose stocks starting next Friday: Food secretary

New Delhi: Rice retailers, wholesalers and processors are asked that, beginning next Friday, they disclose their stock holdings, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Department of Food and Public, said.

The reporting of stocks is irrespective of the category of rice--basmati or non-basmati, parboiled, or broken.

"To check the prices of rice retailers, wholesalers and processors are advised that the beginning next Friday, they should be disclosing their stock on our portal in various categories of the stocks that they're holding, whether it's basmati or non basmati or parboiled, are broken. If required govt will consider to fix stock stock limit for rice," Sanjeev Chopra told reporters.

Rice prices on average rose 14.5 percent year-on-year, and there were apprehensions that traders must be hoarding the commodity.

"So hopefully that will send a signal to these unscrupulous elements who are holding stocks for no reason to release the stocks into the market," the secretary said.

Among other interventions to cool food grain prices, the secretary said subsidised Bharat Rice has been supplied by Food Corporation of India to the three entities -- NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar.

"They have been advised to have the maximum retail price at 29 rupees per kg. We are further targeting the areas in the