Given the losses suffered by farmers as a result of unseasonal rains, the State government has once again appealed to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) relax the Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norms, particularly the permitted moisture content of 20% from the current 17% when procuring paddy.
Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar informed rice millers of this during a review meeting at the Secretariat here on Monday. The rice millers stated that the repeatedly rain-soaked paddy was unsuitable for milling. In addition to discoloring, it resulted in a higher percentage of broken rice in the stocks. Huge losses were being incurred as a result of the FCI rejecting such stocks, they informed the Minister.
The Minister stated that a letter has already been sent to the FCI in order to relax the FAQ norms for the benefit of farmers. “Another appeal is also being made to the FCI in this regard,” he explained.
As per Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s directions, the administration was taking all alternative measures to ensure that farmers did not suffer losses, he said.
Telangana continued to produce record paddy year after year. However, due to unseasonal rains during the Yasangi season, the farming community suffered losses, he said. He urged all stakeholders, including rice millers, to extend all cooperation and support to the farming community in light of the farmers’ plight.
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Despite the challenges this season, the State government procured one lakh metric tonnes on average per day. 1.61 lakh metric tonnes of paddy were procured on Monday alone. He stated that last season, 8 lakh metric tonnes were procured, and this season, 15.38 lakh metric tonnes have already been procured from farmers.
“These stocks, which are worth of nearly Rs.3161 crore are procured through 6087 procurement farmers and from 1.07 lakh farmers” Kamalakar said.
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