Country?s foodgrains stock fell four per cent short of buffer norms as on January 1 in the backdrop of the Centre reducing allocation to states under the public distribution system.
?The foodgrains stock with Food Corporation of India stood at 191.87 lakh tons as on January 1, 2008 against a stipulated norm of 200 lakh tons,? a senior government official said.
Stock of rice depleted to 114.75 lakh tons against the buffer norm of 118 lakh tons as on January 1 this year, while that of wheat has been lower at 77.12 lakh tons compared to the norm of 82 lakh tons.
Last year, the Centre had cut wheat allocation to states under PDS by citing low procurement for the buffer. However, it had released more rice to adjust the cut in wheat.
Meanwhile, the rice procurement in the ongoing Kharif marketing season on Monday reached at 165.5 lakh tons as compared to 164.1 lakh tons in the corresponding period last year.
?Out of the total procurement, 27.7 lakh tons have been supplied by millers as levy rice,? the official said.
Even as the government aims to purchase 276 lakh tons rice this year under the central pool, officials said the foodgrains stock could be in the range of 250-260 lakh tons, marginally increasing last year?s level of 250 lakh tons.