Centre relaxes paddy specifications

The Centre has relaxed the uniform specifications of paddy in Orissa for the kharif marketing season of 2008-09. It follows the request made by the Orissa government to relax the norms adopted for procurement of paddy.

To reduce the hardship of the farmers and to avoid distress sale of paddy, the Centre has decided to procure paddy in Orissa relaxing the present FAQ (fair average quality) norms. The Centre has already communicated the state government in this regard, official sources said.

As per the relaxed norms, the maximum limit in respect of damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weeviled grains may be allowed up to 5 per cent relaxation as against the existing limit of 4 per cent provided under uniform specifications with full value cut.

 

Besides, the maximum limit in case of immature, shrunken and shrivelled grains may be allowed up to 5 per cent against the existing limit of 3 per cent provided under uniform specifications. This relaxation will be implemented with immediate effect and will be applicable for the current kharif season in the state.

While the relaxation will be at full value cut and the account will be maintained for such paddy or rice milled there from separately, it will be subject to the state governent utilising the milled rice from this paddy for the targeted public distribution system and other welfare schemes in the state. The farmers in the state had sought relaxation of the FAQ norms during the procurement of paddy.