Rice supply slows down due to lack of space in Punjab's godowns

12-Mar-2025 06:05 PM

Rice Supply in Punjab Slows Down Due to Storage Crisis

Chandigarh: Punjab, the largest contributor of food grains to India's central pool, is facing a severe storage crisis that has slowed down rice supply and increased difficulties for rice millers. The lack of storage space in godowns has forced millers to delay the supply of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Key Concerns Raised by Punjab’s Food & Supplies Department:

• Only 32% of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) has been delivered so far.
• FCI is unwilling to accept further rice deliveries due to a shortage of storage space.
• As per regulations, all CMR must be delivered by March 31, but logistical constraints are preventing compliance.

Challenges Faced by Rice Millers:

• Unscientific Allotment of Godowns:
  • FCI field staff allocate far-off storage centers to millers instead of designated centers.
  • No additional transportation costs are provided for delivering rice to distant godowns.
• Excess Stockpile of Paddy and Rice:
  • Many millers already have large quantities of stored paddy, which is causing storage congestion.

Upcoming Storage Crisis for Wheat Procurement

• Massive wheat procurement in Punjab is set to begin next month.
• The unresolved rice storage crisis could severely impact wheat storage as well.

Efforts to Resolve the Crisis:

• High-level meetings between the Punjab government, FCI, and food procurement agencies are underway.
• Urgent steps are expected to ease storage constraints and facilitate smoother rice deliveries.

Without immediate intervention, both rice and wheat supply chains could face major disruptions in Punjab.