To check rising prices, Tamil Nadu will sell 25,000 tonnes of fine rice at ₹30 a kg (up to 5 kg each) from this weekend at 250 Amudham and cooperative outlets, along with toor dal at ₹130 and other essentials below market rates.
To check rising prices, Tamil Nadu will sell 25,000 tonnes of fine rice at ₹30 a kg (up to 5 kg each) from this weekend at 250 Amudham and cooperative outlets, along with toor dal at ₹130 and other essentials below market rates.
The Tamil Nadu government will sell fine-variety (sanna ragam) rice at ₹30 a kilo through Amudham shops and cooperative stores from this weekend. The aim is to bring down open-market prices that have been rising. The Food and Consumer Protection and Cooperation departments announced the plan on October 15, and Food Minister P. Venkataramanan explained it to reporters at the Secretariat on October 16.
| Item | Price per kg |
|---|---|
| Fine-variety rice (first phase) | ₹30 |
| Ponni boiled rice | ₹60 |
| Toor dal (500 tonnes bought from NAFED) | ₹130 |
| Urad dal | ₹140 |
| Garlic | ₹240 |
| Coriander seeds | ₹240 |
| Dried red chilli | ₹330 |
| Onion (existing scheme, continues) | ₹35 |
Tamil Nadu traders buy most fine rice from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. El Niño cut paddy cultivation there, so less fine rice reached the state. The average open-market rice price rose to about ₹61 a kilo in September 2026, up from ₹55 in 2025. Ponni rice has been selling at ₹75–85 a kilo in shops.
Earlier, when onion reached ₹65 a kilo, about 2,500 tonnes were sold at ₹35 through cooperative and ration shops.
Rice is the biggest item in most Tamil Nadu kitchens. Selling it at about half the market price, with a per-person limit and action against hoarding, gives families direct relief before the festival season. It also puts pressure on traders to bring their prices down.
Price Control Rice Amudham Cooperatives Food Department Day 160