Punjab seeks raise in moisture content limit in paddy
The Punjab government has urged the central procurement agency FCI to raise the permissible limit of moisture content for paddy procurement in the wake of recent rains.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Tuesday said he had requested the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to consider increasing the accepted moisture level for paddy procurement in view of the impact of the recent heavy rains on the crop.
He was replying to a question on the sidelines of the Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojna (MGSVY) mega camp here, according to an official release.
Notably, the norm for the maximum permissible moisture content in paddy is 17 per cent. Beyond it, the procurement agencies can refuse purchasing crop.
With paddy procurement commencing on October 1, the moisture content in fresh arrivals of paddy at some areas was around 20 per cent which was beyond the permissible limit. However, the arrivals are low in grain markets as last month rains had delayed harvesting in the state.
Meanwhile, the ...