Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today sought personal intervention of the Union Minister of Food and Civil Supplies to direct Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure required space for supply of rice so that the procurement of paddy/rice in the state during Kharif Marketing Season 2024-25 is carried out smoothly.
Issue related to the lack of space for supply
In a letter to the Union Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, CM Mann has raised the issue related to lack of space with FCI for supply. The CM regretted that FCI is severely short of space especially from May till date due to which the rice millers of the state are facing hindrance in supplying rice of Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24 to FCI in the central pool. This has also created concern among the rice millers of the state about the lack of space during the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season 2024-25.
CM Mann said that despite the efforts of the state government and rice millers, only 98.35 percent of the total rice has been supplied to FCI so far. Due to the continuous shortage of space, the state government was forced to extend the milling time first to July 31, 2024 and then to August 31, 2024. Due to lack of space, the central government has extended the supply period for the remaining rice of Kharif season 2023-24 till September 30, 2024.
Efforts for Problem of space to be resolved in Kharif season
CM Mann said that the state government is making every effort to ensure that the remaining rice is delivered to FCI as soon as possible, so that the problem of availability of space with FCI during Kharif Marketing Season 2024-25 can be resolved smoothly.
CM Mann said that 185-190 lakh metric tonnes of paddy is expected to be procured during the upcoming season, which will produce 120-125 lakh metric tonnes of rice for the central pool. As against the total covered space of 171 lakh metric tonnes available in the state, so far, about 121 lakh metric tonnes of rice and 50 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have been stored in covered godowns and no space is available for the new crop.
Speaking on the issue of concern expressed by the Rice Millers on the lack of space with FCI, CM Mann said that if Punjab creates the required space by mobilizing additional racks in time, it will be quite beneficial for the farmers of the state.
Storage issue needs attention
The storage issue needs immediate attention and monthly transportation/liquidation of at least 20 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains, especially rice, from the state every month till March 2025, is required to provide the required space for fresh rice of Kharif season 2024-25.
CM Mann further said that the Union Minister should personally intervene to issue necessary instructions to FCI to make necessary arrangements for covered storage space. At least 25 racks of rice and wheat should be moved per day from the covered godowns of the state from 24th September to 25th March, so that the required space can be created for the supply of rice and the procurement of paddy/rice can be done smoothly during Kharif season 2024-25 in the state.