In a significant move aimed at stabilizing food prices and ensuring affordable nutrition, the Government of India has reported substantial sales of its Bharat Brand food products. Since the launch of Bharat Dal in July 2023, over 12.3 lakh tonnes of Bharat Chana Dal, 5,663 tonnes of Bharat Moong Dal, and 118 tonnes of Bharat Masur Dal have been sold to consumers.

The initiative was launched by converting the Chana stock from the price stabilization buffer into Chana Dal, which was made available at a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs. 60 per kg for 1 kg packs and Rs. 55 per kg for 30 kg packs. This pricing was initially set to last until September 30, 2024. Following the success of the program, the government allocated an additional 3 lakh tonnes of Chana stock for retail, with new MRPs of Rs. 70 per kg for Chana Dal and Rs. 58 per kg for Chana Whole.

Expanding the Bharat Brand line, Moong and Masur dals have also been introduced. Moong Dal (Dhuli) and Moong Sabut are now available at MRPs of Rs. 107 and Rs. 93 per kg, respectively, while Bharat Masur Dal is priced at Rs. 89 per kg.

Expansion to Atta and Rice

Building on the success of the Bharat Dal program, the government launched Bharat Atta (wheat flour) and Bharat Rice in November 2023 and February 2024, respectively. During Phase I, these products were sold at MRPs of Rs. 27.50 per kg for Atta and Rs. 29 per kg for Rice, up to June 30, 2024. In Phase II, the MRPs were revised to Rs. 30 per kg for Bharat Atta and Rs. 34 per kg for Bharat Rice.

Phase I saw a remarkable 15.2 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of Bharat Atta and 14.58 LMT of Bharat Rice distributed to consumers. In the current Phase II, 2,952.2 metric tonnes (MT) of Bharat Atta and 3,413.3 MT of Bharat Rice have already been sold.

Distribution and Accessibility

To ensure the accessibility of Bharat Brand products, the government has adopted a multi-channel distribution strategy. Products are available through the retail outlets and mobile vans of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), Kendriya Bhandar, and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF). Additionally, these items can be purchased via e-commerce platforms and large retail chains, providing a wide reach across urban and rural areas.

Source: PIB