Haryana: Non-availability of fortified rice hits delivery of custom-milled rice
Rice millers warn that delays in supplying fortified rice kernels (FRK) could disrupt custom milled rice deliveries to FCI. With only four approved suppliers and sampling pending, milling has slowed, deadlines are at risk, and millers fear penalties, quality losses, and possible black marketing.
Millers said the shortage of FRK is likely to delay CMR delivery as the government finalised four agencies for FRK supply only last week. However, they pointed out that actual supply may take time since sampling of FRK is yet to be completed.
According to millers, the entire process could take 15-20 days, further delaying delivery of CMR to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and also affecting the quality of rice lying in mills.
As per the CMR policy, rice millers are required to deliver 67 per cent rice against the total paddy allotted to them, with one per cent FRK mixed in the rice. Millers, however, alleged that while they were earlier assured that FRK would be supplied by the government at the time of rice delivery, the arrangement was changed at the last moment. This has left them dependent on a limited number of private suppliers, raising fears of black marketing of FRK.
Saurabh Gupta, president of the Karnal Rice Millers and Dealers Association, said FRK was mandatory for rice delivery to FCI. “We have processed the paddy allotted to us, and now we are waiting for the FRK to be mixed in it. The number of FRK supplier agencies is very few, while the number of millers across the state is around 1,350 who are involved in CMR. Practically, it is impossible to meet the demand of so many millers in the state by these four suppliers,” he said.
“Earlier, we were told that FRK would be provided by the government. Now the tender has been allotted to private agencies, and FRK is still not available. Without FRK, we cannot deliver fortified rice as per policy. We request the government to provide FRK without any delay,” Gupta added.
Due to the non-availability of FRK, rice milling activities in many units have almost come to a halt. Millers said that while some rice was delivered earlier without FRK after temporary permission was granted, operations have now stopped completely.
Under the new policy, millers are required to deliver 15 per cent of CMR by December, 25 per cent by the end of January, 20 per cent by the end of February, 15 per cent by the end of March, another 15 per cent by the end of May and the remaining 10 per cent by the end of June.
Millers warned that continued delays in FRK availability could result in failure to meet these deadlines, exposing them to penalties despite the situation being beyond their control.
As per official data, rice millers across Haryana have been allotted around 59.41 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy. Against this, they are required to deliver 39.81 lakh MT of rice along with one per cent FRK, amounting to about 0.59 lakh MT.
A senior official of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department said FRK would be supplied to mills by the identified agencies after completion of the sampling process, though he admitted that it may take some days.
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Source : The Tribune
