Though the government has revised the minimum buffer stocking norms for foodgrains keeping in view the growth in population, the foodstocks in the central pool at present is above the revised norms. The revised buffer norm for wheat for October 1 is 11.6 million tonnes and that for rice is 6.5 million tonnes. On October 1, the central pool has 15 million tonnes of wheat and 8.7 million tonnes of rice.

It appears that the main motive behind offloading of foodgrains for open market prices is to create space for the newly procured foodgrains. Already the kharif marketing has started and the current kharif season's procurement may turn out to be good due to remunerative prices declared. TheFCI and other procuring agencies have very limited storage capacities.

Centre has also fixed the prices of rice for mill delivery in the current kharif marketing season after consultations with the rice contributing states.

Prices have been fixed at different rates for each of the rice contributing states in regard to both common and grade A varieties of raw and parboiled rice. The union food ministry has also communicated its decision to each of the rice contributing states. The prices fixed by the centre is, however, exclusive of taxes, if any, leviable at rice stage.

The centre has also decided to intimate to the concerned states about the forwarding and transportation charges admissible for delivery of levy rice in 95 kg and 50 kg packaging soon after its takes a decision on the issue.The Union food ministry has also requested the Food Corporation of India (FCI) that the statutory fees or taxes payable at rice stage should be paid as extra to the price of levy rice, subject to necessary adjustmentof the taxes paid at paddy stage. The highest price for both varieties of raw and parboiled rice in Punjab. In Punjab, the common variety raw rice is Rs 788.40 per quintal, that of grade A raw rice is Rs 838.00 per quintal. The price of common parboiled rice is Rs 791.20 per quintal and that of grade A parboiled rice is Rs 840.10 per quintal. The lowest price range is in case of Pondicherry. The price of common variety raw rice is Rs 717.80 per quintal and that of grade A raw rice is Rs 762.50 per quintal in case of Pondicherry. The price of common parboiled rice for Pondicherry is Rs 721.60 per quintal and that of grade A parboiled rice is Rs 765.70 per quintal.