State’s contribution to paddy central pool trails 2009 record

Likewise,procurement of rice for the central pool in the state stands at 114.25 lakh MT this year (till November 8) down from 124.7 MT last year. The trend of falling private purchase of paddy continues this year with total purchase by private traders so far being 7.78 lakh MT against 10.3 lakh MT last year. Taken together,the total procurement – 122.03 lakh MT — is down nine per cent against last year’s 135.07 lakh MT till the first week of November,said Punjab Mandi Board GM (enforcement) SS Randhawa.

In Haryana,which had last year registered its highest-ever paddy production of 50 lakh MT,including basmati varieties,the arrivals so far are to the tune of 29.1 lakh MT. Arrival of procurable common grade A varieties has almost dried up in its markets and the state has so far procured 22.4 lakh MT for the central pool and is unlikely to touch last year’s total procurement figure of 26.36 lakh MT.

One of the main reasons for lower production of procurable paddy in the two states is the increase in area under superfine varieties (basmati) owing to floods in early July. Most of the farmers opted for late-sown basmati after their paddy nurseries were washed away by floods and free or subsidised basmati seeds were distributed by the respective state agriculture departments. In Punjab,the advisory to farmers not to sow high-yielding PAU 201 following non-acceptance of rice milled from it by the Food Corporation of India last year has also hit overall production. The per-acre yield in several districts was also affected by heavy rains during harvest season resulting in high moisture and discoloration in the grain.

Although the specifications for damage and discoloration were later relaxed by the Union Food Ministry,the problem of high moisture and discoloration which derailed procurement and lifting operations during the last three weeks has created a backlog of unlifted stocks. Still,17.86 lakh MT of paddy procured for the central pool in Punjab is awaiting lifting in its various markets.