Paddy stocked in the last rabi season in Punjab, which languished in the godowns may finally find some takers as the Centre has approved Rs190 crore for sortexing of the damaged grain.
The state has a pending stock of 2.5 million tonnes of paddy variety of PAU 201 that should have been lifted by the state procurement agencies. The new variety of paddy, PAU 201 was developed by Punjab Agriculture University last year to provide farmers seeds, consuming less water.
Due to high iron content in the grain, black dot was noticed on the grain called pin damage and the agencies refused to accept the rice from the millers.
The issue was raised by Member of Parliament Harsimrat Badal, wife of Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab in the monsoon session of Parliament and millers’ protests resulted in the funds earmarked by the Centre for sortexing of rice. A compensation of Rs200 per quintal to Rs100 per quintal would be given to the millers for the CRM rice for upgradation of rice.
“Although the Indian Council of Medical research has also endorsed that the rice having pin damage is fit for human consumption we have incurred the loss due to delayed milling”, said Tarsem Saini, the President of Rice Millers Association of Punjab.
The millers said paddy has a moisture level of 14 per cent-15 per cent. But due to delay in milling the moisture content has dropped to 10 per cent. They have also spent on fumigation and preservation besides labour charges.
According to the information provided by the sources in Food and Civil Supplies department of Punjab, the millers have been communicated about this and the procurement will start shortly. According to the circular of the Centre 10 districts would be given compensation.
