Assurance to buy every grain of paddy in Punjab

28-Oct-2024 01:10 PM

New Delhi. The Union Food Minister has assured that the purchase of every grain of paddy from the farmers in Punjab will be ensured.

He said that there is no crisis or problem anywhere and only some vested interests are creating obstacles in this. Punjab is the state that contributes the most food grains to the central pool.

During the current Kharif marketing season, the purchase of rice (paddy) in Punjab is lagging much behind last year. In this regard,

the Food Minister has received complaints of a decrease in the average recovery rate of rice from paddy in the state this time and IIT Kharagpur has been entrusted with the responsibility of finding out the reasons for this. Under this,

there is information of less rice being produced especially from PR 126 variety of paddy, although this is not the sown variety. This paddy is being cultivated in Punjab since the year 2016. It is surprising that this matter has arisen suddenly.

Although the Central Government has fixed the average recovery rate of rice from paddy at 67%, the millers of Punjab are demanding to revise it to 62-63%.

They claim that the rice recovery from PR 126 variety of paddy is decreasing. Regarding this demand of the millers, the Food Minister said that the Central Government has a uniform standard for the entire country and no special favoritism will be shown to Punjab alone. He refused to give any temporary relief to Punjab until the correct report of this is out.

According to the Food Minister, there is news of cultivation of hybrid paddy of other categories in some areas instead of PR 126 variety, which is becoming popular due to its ripening in a short period and also consumes less water.

The Central Government has set a target of purchasing 124 lakh tons of rice in Punjab this year and it is expected to achieve this target. Government purchase of paddy will be done till November 30 at 2700 purchase centers in the state.