Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, announced key initiatives for seamless paddy and Custom Milled Rice (CMR) procurement in Punjab. Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he stated that the targeted 185 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) for the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25 will be fully procured, with every grain accounted for. He also revealed plans to launch an online grievance redressal portal dedicated to rice millers, ensuring that any operational issues faced by stakeholders are addressed promptly.
Procurement Update and Infrastructure Preparedness
Punjab’s paddy procurement began on October 1, 2024, with 2,700 designated mandis, including temporary setups, facilitating the process. Due to September’s heavy rains and increased paddy moisture, initial delays were encountered. However, with 50 LMT of paddy procured by October 26, the state is on track to reach its 185 LMT target by November.
In preparation for CMR storage, high-level meetings have been held with the Punjab government, resulting in swift actions, including wheat stock evacuation to deficit states, hiring CWC/SWC godowns, and creating 31 LMT storage under the PEG scheme. Approximately 15 LMT of storage is currently vacant in Punjab, and by December—when CMR deliveries typically begin—adequate storage will be available to ensure smooth operations. A depot-wise plan aims to evacuate 13-14 LMT of wheat monthly from Punjab through March 2025. Additionally, a high-level committee, led by the Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), monitors storage capacity and logistics weekly.
Out Turn Ratio and Hybrid Paddy Varieties
There has been a request from millers for a reduction in the current 67% Out Turn Ratio (OTR) for rice, citing lower yields from the PR-126 paddy variety. This concern, linked to hybrid seeds marketed as PR-126, is being examined. To address this, the Government of India, which maintains uniform OTR standards, has commissioned a study by IIT Kharagpur to evaluate OTR and driage levels across key rice-producing states, including Punjab.
Additional Support for Rice Millers
In response to additional transportation expenses faced by rice millers, FCI has authorized regional-level approvals for extra charges when depot space is unavailable beyond a 15-day wait. The necessary adjustments in the procurement portal have been implemented to support this process, and this issue has been resolved to millers’ satisfaction.
With these measures in place, Punjab is set to achieve a smooth and successful KMS 2024-25 procurement season.
