The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has fixed the target of procuring 463.50 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of rice for the Central Pool during the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025-26. In addition, procurement of 19.19 LMT of coarse grains and millets (Shree Anna) has been projected, with states and union territories urged to increase millet procurement to promote crop diversification and improve nutritional security.
The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, DFPD, with participation from Food Secretaries of states and UTs and senior officials of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
The review also highlighted several technology-driven and efficiency-focused initiatives of the department. These include web-based processing of milling requests, mobile app-based joint physical verification of paddy, Smart PDS, Anna Mitra, the SCAN portal for food subsidy bills, and infrastructure improvements at procurement centres. Updates on storage policy, cash credit limits for jute bag purchases, and the ‘Depot Darpan’ initiative were also shared.
Officials were apprised of the rice milling transformation scheme, under which custom milling will now permit only up to 10% broken rice, aimed at ensuring better quality output.
The meeting was attended by Food Secretaries from states/UTs, the Chairman and Managing Director of FCI, and other senior officers.