Rice procurement unaffected by delayed rains

According to FCI estimates, about 8.1 million tonnes of paddy has been procured in the initial phase

Rice procurement in Haryana and Punjab is in full swing, belying apprehensions of weak procurement due to delayed rains.

Haryana and Punjab begin harvesting rice before other states. This season, half the procurement in Punjab has already been completed.

Despite adverse weather conditions in certain parts of the country, rice procurement hasn't been hit, at least in the initial phase. Though procurement was delayed by two-three weeks in states in east and south India, owing to delayed rains, the yield wasn't affected.

For this financial year, the Centre has pegged paddy procurement at 51.3 million tonnes (mt). According to Food Corporation of India (FCI) estimates, about 8.1 mt of paddy has been procured in the initial phase.

An FCI source said floods in Odisha might affect procurement of the crop in that state. He added the estimates provided by state food secretaries were conservative ones and procurement in states that saw normal weather conditions might exceed these estimates.

Sources in the Central Rice Research Institute said long-duration varieties of the crop would recover from the floods, adding significant damage to the crop was unlikely.

On Thursday, a central team assessed the discoloration and damage to the crop in Punjab, owing to the delayed rains. The team would give its report in three-four days, FCI sources said.