Jalandhar October 25:
The Centre has created a crisis with regard to the procurement of paddy in the state. Observing this, president, Bharti Kisan Union (BKU), Balbir Singh Rajewal today said a delegation of his organisation would meet Prime Minister Office officials and others concerned at the Centre tomorrow to urge them to relax specifications keeping in view the existing conditions in the state.
Speaking to media, Rajewal said, “Our delegation will reach New Delhi this evening. Besides the PMO officials, we have sought an appointment with Rahul Gandhi to bring to his notice that how the Centre is creating problems in the paddy procurement in the state,” said Rajewal.
The Centre would be pressed to increase the moisture limit to 20 per cent from the existing 17 per cent. “Earlier, the Centre had allowed the paddy procurement with a moisture level up to 20 per cent. At that time, the FCI had to pay the rice millers drying charges. To avoid the payment of drying charges, the Centre brought down the moisture limit to 17 per cent creating trouble for the farmers,” said Rajewal, adding that prolonged monsoon season caused higher level of moisture in the paddy.
Because of the jassid attack on the paddy crop in a big way, the black spots had appeared on its grains affecting their luster. Owing to this reason, the procurement agencies were refusing to procure most of the paddy heaps. He said there was nothing wrong with the grains with black spots. The delegation would urge the Centre to relax damage, discolour, moisture and other specifications in the light of the practical problems faced by the paddy growers in the state.
“I am certain that from 100 kg paddy, the outturn of rice will be 62 kg, whereas the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will seek 67 kg rice from the millers for each 100 kg of paddy given to them and such a demand will create another crisis,” he added.
The Centre has created a crisis with regard to the procurement of paddy in the state. Observing this, president, Bharti Kisan Union (BKU), Balbir Singh Rajewal today said a delegation of his organisation would meet Prime Minister Office officials and others concerned at the Centre tomorrow to urge them to relax specifications keeping in view the existing conditions in the state.
Speaking to media, Rajewal said, “Our delegation will reach New Delhi this evening. Besides the PMO officials, we have sought an appointment with Rahul Gandhi to bring to his notice that how the Centre is creating problems in the paddy procurement in the state,” said Rajewal.
The Centre would be pressed to increase the moisture limit to 20 per cent from the existing 17 per cent. “Earlier, the Centre had allowed the paddy procurement with a moisture level up to 20 per cent. At that time, the FCI had to pay the rice millers drying charges. To avoid the payment of drying charges, the Centre brought down the moisture limit to 17 per cent creating trouble for the farmers,” said Rajewal, adding that prolonged monsoon season caused higher level of moisture in the paddy.
Because of the jassid attack on the paddy crop in a big way, the black spots had appeared on its grains affecting their luster. Owing to this reason, the procurement agencies were refusing to procure most of the paddy heaps. He said there was nothing wrong with the grains with black spots. The delegation would urge the Centre to relax damage, discolour, moisture and other specifications in the light of the practical problems faced by the paddy growers in the state.
“I am certain that from 100 kg paddy, the outturn of rice will be 62 kg, whereas the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will seek 67 kg rice from the millers for each 100 kg of paddy given to them and such a demand will create another crisis,” he added.
