Fearing losses, Sangrur millers too refuse to stock paddy

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, November 8

Many rice millers of the district have stopped the stocking of paddy as they allege that the moisture content is above 20 per cent whereas the permissible limit is 17 per cent.

“Around 300 millers of Sangrur have decided against the stocking of paddy, which is being purchased in various grain markets of the district as its moisture content is between 20 to 25 per cent. If we all stock paddy with moisture content higher than the permissible limit of 17 per cent, it would cause huge losses to us,” said Rajnish Kansal, state media incharge of Rice Millers Association, Punjab.

Kansal alleged that at many places, the officers concerned of various purchase agencies were missing and arhtiyas were weighing the paddy without checking the moisture content.

Some farmers sitting in the Sangrur grain market alleged that the delay in sowing paddy had delayed its harvest and now, the moisture content had increased.

“Had the government not pressured farmers to delay the sowing of paddy, the moisture would not have crossed the permissible limit. Its not our fault, it is the fault of the state government so it must give us relaxation in this regard,” said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of the BKU Ugrahan.

The coordination committee of all purchase agencies met Sangrur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ghanshayam Thori on Friday and submitted a letter, demanding a solution for the problem. In the letter, purchase agency employees have alleged that the moisture content in paddy had reached 25 per cent and there was tension in grain markets as arhtiyas were weighing paddy with high moisture content while rice millers were refusing to stock this paddy.

The DC said the administration would take all required steps for the safety of purchase agency officers.

“Normally, up to 22 per cent moisture gets reduced to the permissible 17 per cent during a 48-hour lifting period. We have been appealing to farmers to not bring paddy with moisture content beyond 22 per cent,” said the DC.