Govt plans to sell 8 million tonnes of white rice inventory within this year. The inventory is part of rice stocks of 18 million tonnes accumulated from the rice subsidy scheme implemented by previous govt. 8 million tonnes comprise three grades of rice; 3 million tonnes food grade, 3.66 million tonnes industrial-use grade and 1 million tonnes of rotten rice which can be used only for alcohol production. Govt put up 1.3 million tonnes of food-grade rice for auction last month and another 1.5 million tonnes will be put up for auction in May.