Minstries working on paddy policy

The ministry of food processing, along with the agriculture and food ministries, is working on a comprehensive policy to improve the processing of paddy (de-husked rice) in eastern Indian states.

The need for such a policy is being felt, as the success of the second Green Revolution depends heavily on improving paddy production in these states.

Officials said that increasing paddy production in eastern Indian states of West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and eastern Uttar Pradesh is the cornerstone of the programme to usher in green revolution in these areas. Hence, improving the milling process is integral for the success of the programme.

West Bengal accounts for almost 15 per cent of the country’s total paddy output.

A sum of Rs 400 crore was sanctioned in the Union Budget 2011-12 for the programme to bring green revolution in eastern India.

“The objective behind having the policy to improve paddy processing in eastern India is to bring it at par with the efficiency levels seen among paddy milling units in northern India,” officials said.

In northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana wastage of paddy at the milling stage is almost 10-15 per cent less than that in eastern India.

One big reason for this is the paddy milling units in Punjab and Haryana are much advanced than those in eastern India, which the policy will seek to address.

Officials said the Thanjavur-based Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT), which has an expertise in paddy processing technologies, might also be roped in to prepare the blue-print of such a policy.

Recently, food processing minister Sharad Pawar held a meeting with food minister K V Thomas, where the issue of having a comprehensive policy to improve paddy processing in eastern India was discussed.

Officials said the policy could also aim at creating awareness among farmers of eastern India as to what is the ideal time for bringing in paddy for milling and others facets like the ideal moisture content in them to get maximum results.

The Food Corporation of India as part of its annual grain procurement initiative purchases paddy from farmers and then offloads it to mills for conversion into rice.