The recent spell of heavy rains across the State has not only damaged standing crops in the initial plant growth stage but also damaged huge quantity of paddy produced and procured during the recent Rabi/Yasangi season with uncertainty still looming over the lifting of custom milled rice (CMR) by the Centre or Food Corporation of India (FCI).
According to officials of the State Civil Supplies Corporation (CSC), there were about 94 lakh tonnes of paddy stocks with millers stored in their mills or other storage spaces including in open areas outside the rice mills. The paddy pertains to both the Rabi season and the last Kharif/Vanakalam season.
After the Centre/FCI’s refusal to procure parboiled rice processed during the Rabi season, the State government has taken up procurement with two to three weeks of delay. About 50.67 lakh tonnes of paddy produced in the Rabi season was procured by paying about ₹9,900 crore to farmers and spending an equal amount on gunny sacks, stitching material, transportation and procurement of other necessary material.
