Amid the ongoing tussle over procurement of paddy cultivated in the current rabi, the Food Corporation of India was authorised by Centre to give one more extension of deadline to the State government to deliver custom milled rice (CMR) for the same season last year till April 30.
The Central government had extended the deadline for delivery of the stocks six times since September and, on the last occasion, the State had sought two-month extension from March 31 but got only one month up to April 30.
The State government had procured from farmers 92.34 lakh tonnes of paddy in the rabi of 2020-21, of which it was supposed to deliver to the FCI 62.53 lakh tonnes of CMR at 67 per cent recovery. But, the State could deliver only 53.38 lakh tonnes till March 31 when the fifth extension expired and the balance 9.15 lakh tonnes of rice was held up when a fresh controversy over procurement of grains for this season between the State and Central governments erupted.
With the harvest of paddy crop commencing in a few days and lack of clarity on fresh procurement, the focus has shifted to godown space both at rice mills and warehouses in the State. About 47 lakh tonnes of CMR of 2021-22 kharif were supposed to be shifted to the godowns of FCI by July. But, only 15.37 lakh tonnes was delivered so far. Officials said the godown space was tight for the balance 31.68 lakh tonnes of CMR.
The godown space of FCI and the warehousing corporations of State and Central governments was to the extent of 20.05 lakh tonnes. But, the godowns were now almost full to capacity with the CMR of rabi in 2020-21 and the kharif of 2021-22. Though the space had eased in the last couple of months with prompt deployment of railway rakes for need based shifting of stocks to other States, a lot of accommodation was still needed for fresh arrivals after the recent extension of deadline.
Space to accommodate about 40 lakh tonnes of CMR was required till July considering the 9.15 lakh tonnes of pending CMR of rabi last year and the yet to be delivered 31.68 lakh tonnes of rice of this year’s kharif. The FCI officials, however, were confident that they could create space as the corporation had shifted 20.60 lakh tonnes from December last to March.
