New Delhi: Government procurement of paddy is going on in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Western Uttar Pradesh at the minimum support price (MSP), but the procurement process is slow due to high moisture content. A maximum of 17 percent moisture is valid for paddy procurement at MSP. But, due to the late return of monsoon, paddy currently has 25 to 27 percent moisture.

Farmers are upset due to this. They have to clear the fields and prepare for the next crop. Therefore, there is eagerness to sell paddy. Farmers are waiting in long queues in the mandis. There is a demand from the government to increase the relaxation in the maximum amount of moisture. For the financial year 2024-25, the rate of general variety of paddy has been fixed at Rs 2,300 per quintal and the rate of grade-A has been fixed at Rs 2,320 per quintal.

What is the target for paddy procurement

After discussing the supply chain and other requirements of the public distribution system, the government has set a target to purchase 485 lakh tons of paddy at MSP this Kharif season. This is 22 lakh tons more than last year. Last year 463 lakh tons of paddy was purchased. For purchasing paddy at the government rate, if the moisture content is more than 17 percent, then it is not purchased.

However, if needed, facilities for drying paddy are provided at procurement centres. But, farmers want relaxation in the maximum amount of moisture. FCI believes that procurement may pick up pace from the third week of October. This time the reason for excessive moisture in paddy is the late withdrawal of monsoon.

Monsoon caused trouble while leaving

Generally, the monsoon retreats from many states of North India including Delhi by the last week of September, but this time it was delayed by two weeks. Even while leaving, the monsoon brought heavy rains in many states. The paddy crops in the fields were ripe and ready. Due to this, they could not dry completely. There are complaints of paddy grains breaking due to cutting the wet crop in the machine. According to the standards, the maximum amount of broken grains should not be more than six percent.

In Haryana, the purchase of paddy at the government rate has started from September 25, while in the divisions of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal and Western UP, the purchase is going on from October 1, but most of the mandis are empty. Even if the purchase has started in some mandis, the process is very slow. The purchase agencies and millers claim that only the old stock is left in the godowns. It is necessary to empty the godowns for storing new crops. In other states, the process of purchase is to start on different dates.