NEW DELHI: Following the recommendations of a high-level panel on revamping the Food Corporation of India , the Punjab government has offered to sell wheat and rice directly to Kerala , bypassing the state-owned agency responsible for maintaining the nation’s food security.Punjab, which supplies 44% of the country’s food grains, can sell rice and wheat to the southern state as per its requirements and keep FCI out of the transaction, Punjab food minister Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon said in Chandigarh on Thursday, according to a statement.Kerala food minister Anoop Jacob, who met Kairon in Chandigarh, said the state would like grains from Punjab in 40 kg packs. A Punjab government delegation would soon visit Kerala to finalise the details.The panel headed by Himachal Pradesh BJP leader Shanta Kumar recommended that the FCI should withdraw operations from major states such as Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, which have gained sufficient experience in procurement. The agency should focus on helping states in east and northeast India.The government had tasked the panel with suggesting ways to improve FCI’s operational efficiency and financial management, as well as overall improvement in management of food grains. The eight-member panel submitted its report on January 19.Punjab contributes more than 210 lakh metric tonnes of food grains to the central kitty, feeding a population of 35 crore people.Punjab purchased about 125 lakh tonnes of paddy during the recent procurement season from 1,800 locations set up for this purpose. The entire system of purchase and procurement was computerised.Payments of more than Rs 1,800 crore were made to the farmers through an online portal, ensuring transparency in the system. Kairon said the portal helped farmers to get payments directly in their accounts within 72 hours of procurement.