Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry issued a strong warning to those attempting to hoard barley with the intention of creating artificial  scarcity and spiral the market price.

The ministry also directed provincial officials to step up inspections and take strong deterrent penal measures against those who attempt to hike prices. The punishments include shuttering shops, defamation of the trader in three mass-circulation local newspapers at the expense of the violator, depriving their right to government subsidy besides heavy fine.