'Reducing moisture content in paddy will hit millers'

Punjab Rice Millers Association today said the Centre's move of reducing moisture content in paddy will hit rice millers, saying it will be 'impossible' for them to convert paddy into rice with lower moisture content.
"The Centre has reduced moisture content from 15 per cent to 14 per cent. This move will hit the rice milling industry as it will be difficult for us to convert paddy into rice with lesser moisture content," Punjab Rice Millers Association president Tarsem Saini said today.
Rice millers said the Centre had recently reduced the moisture content in rice from 15 per cent to 14 per cent.

Because of untimely rains in Punjab, moisture content in the paddy crop would remain high, a rice miller pointed out.
The industry has also protested the Centre's move of shortening the rice delivery period from June 30 to April 15.
"This move is also unjustified as FCI does not have time for taking delivery of rice as its whole staff remains busy in wheat procurement at that point of time. Then how and to whom we will be delivering rice within stipulated time," Saini added.
Peeved at the Centre's decision, rice millers have approached Punjab Food Minister Adesh Partap Kairon, seeking his help in taking up the matter with the Centre.