News Capsule: Punjab rice millers face crisis: lower recovery, rising losses
04-Dec-2025 11:08 AM
News Capsule: Punjab rice millers face crisis: lower recovery, rising losses
★ Rice millers in Punjab are facing a tough milling season. Due to floods and heavy rainfall during the kharif months, a large chunk of paddy arriving in mandis is damaged or discoloured beyond the earlier 5% limit.
★ The Centre has relaxed the damage/discolouration limit for farmers to 10%, but millers are still required to deliver two-thirds rice recovery to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) as per previous norms.
★ Millers say milling damaged paddy will reduce rice recovery, increase breakage, and may lead to rejection by FCI if the quality does not meet standards.
★ With paddy production estimated to be around 20% lower this year, millers are avoiding open protest to secure their allotted quota from limited arrivals.
★ Overall, they fear that this season may be more about minimizing losses and staying operational rather than earning profits.