Punjab rice delivery for 2011-12 to central pool picks up

Rice procurement from Punjab for the central pool has picked up for 2011-12 season, with rice millers so far delivering 18.77 lakh tonne of rice, up by 8 lakh tonne in comparison to procurement made in corresponding period last year. Punjab, which contributes almost 30% of country’s rice procurement, is supposed to deliver 75.8 lakh tonne of rice out of paddy procured during Kharif marketing season 2011-12. The delivery of rice starts from December.

"The rice procurement from Punjab this season has been swift. The rice contribution by millers this season has reached 18.77 lakh tonne which is far more than what was contributed in corresponding period," a senior official of FCI told PTI here today. FCI official attributed the rise in rice procurement to the fast movement of food grain stock from Punjab to other states, resulting into enough vacant space for storing rice. "This year the movement of wheat and rice stock is quite satisfactory and we expect over 160 lakh tonne of food grain stock will be evacuated from state godowns to other states by end of March, which will leave sufficient covered space for storage of rice," he said. Punjab government and rice millers have always blamed FCI for slow movement of food grain from the state to consuming states which cause huge shortage of space for storing wheat and rice.

Space constraint always has always been cited as main reason by rice millers for delay in delivery of rice. As per estimates, Punjab faces shortage of 70 lakh tonne of space for storing food grain, though construction of new storage capacity is underway. FCI is also hoping for speedy delivery of rice in the wake of non-approval of relaxation in damage content in rice by the Centre. "The government has not accepted the demand of rice millers this time, seeking relaxation in damage content from 3 per cent to 4 per cent. Now, they are left with no option except to deliver rice," an official confided. Notably, Punjab is yet to deliver over 3 lakh tonne of rice pending for the year 2010-11 as the state was to contribute 86.4 lakh tonne of rice for the same period. The state government has sought extension in last date of rice delivery from January 31 till March 31 for 2010-11 season. The state had already sought extensions thrice from the Centre for the delivery of rice.