As the rabi wheat crop is likely to contain higher moisture content due to unseasonal rains, the central government has asked Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to get samples tested by the Food Corporation of India so that relaxation of quality norms can be considered during procurement.
The consumer affairs, food and public distribution ministry said that quality norms have already been relaxed in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat for procuring wheat that has lost its shine.
"After testing the samples in Madya Pradesh, shrunken and broken grains have been allowed up to 10 percent," said the ministry in a statement.
Noting that for food grain procurement, norms are relaxed from time to time in the interest of farmers, it said: "If quality of wheat is affected due to unseasonal rains or any other reason, relaxation in the norms is considered on the recommendations of states after testing samples of wheat on their arrival."
As per Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, relaxation in norms is allowed if the grain are broken and shrunken, or have lost shine, but grain with more than 14 percent moisture cannot be procured and stored, it said.
