Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 24, The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will launch direct rice sales to consumers starting November 14, 2025, at Delhi’s annual trade fair. This marks the first time FCI will sell premium and parboiled rice directly to the public, aiming to gather consumer feedback and explore retail channels to manage its substantial grain surplus.

FCI’s central pool held 44.96 million tonnes of rice as of October 1, 2025, including 13.92 million tonnes as paddy, exceeding the buffer norm of 10.25 million tonnes by over four times. With limited success through cooperative retail chains, FCI is testing direct consumer sales following a successful trial at the World Food India exhibition in Delhi, where 100 tonnes of rice were sold to visitors.

In addition to retail efforts, FCI has introduced a flexible bulk sale model for large traders, enabling purchases directly from depots via e-tenders. The first tender, launched on October 17, 2025, offers 460,000 tonnes of rice at a reserve price of INR 2,800 per quintal, with bidding opened on October 22. Unlike the Open Market Sale Scheme, which limits purchases to 1,000–7,000 tonnes per bidder per zone, the new model allows bids of 10,000 to 50,000 tonnes in multiples of 2,650-tonne rake loads. Successful bidders must specify delivery railheads to FCI’s regional offices.

The bulk tender rice is designated for domestic trade only, with no exports permitted. Allocations include 50,000 tonnes each for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, with smaller volumes for Delhi, Rajasthan, Kerala, and northeastern states.

An FCI official noted: “The retail initiative could pave the way for future consumer-facing models if the response is favorable.” Given Delhi’s diverse population, FCI plans to offer regional rice varieties, such as Telangana’s parboiled rice, priced around INR 30–35 per kilogram, to cater to varied preferences.

The direct-sale trial aims to reduce excess rice stocks while assessing urban demand for different grain types. If successful, it could establish a new channel for FCI to manage surplus inventory efficiently, benefiting both the corporation and consumers by ensuring access to quality rice varieties tailored to regional tastes.

This dual approach of retail and bulk sales reflects FCI’s efforts to address inventory challenges innovatively. By engaging directly with consumers and streamlining large-scale sales, FCI seeks to balance supply management with market responsiveness, supporting India’s food security framework and economic stability in the agricultural sector.