This was in addition to the allocations under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), he told a press conference here. The release had been made keeping in view the demand and availability of wheat as also monthly allocation, Barnala said. The open sale would be made at rate fixed separately for the four zones in the country.

As per this, wheat would be issued to the State governments by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at Rs 645 a quintal in north zone, Rs 716 in south, Rs 689 in west and Rs 708 in the east zone, he said.

State governments have been given two options for buying the wheat from FCI - They could buy the wheat and release it through the regular public distribution system or nominate agencies, including roller flour mills, cooperative or government body to sellthe foodgrain in open market. ``State governments can also exercise both options,'' he said.

Barnala also assured Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi that FCI would give relaxation in procurement to paddy farmers of coastal Andhra Pradesh, who were affected in the recent cyclone.

Barnala has also promised to send senior officials of the ministry to the affected coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh to get first hand knowledge of the situation and to help coordinate in the procurement measures, Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a release here.

The assurances were given to Balayogi when he met him to discuss the hardships being faced by the farmers in the coastal areas.