Punjab: Change in specifications of broken rice: Malerkotla-based rice millers see ray of hope in pilot project

Rice millers see a ray of hope in the final outcome of a pilot project launched by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, regarding change in uniform specifications for extra broken rice to be recovered from them in future.

Though no instructions have yet been received by any of the rice millers regarding inclusion of their units in the pilot project, millers expressed their willingness to follow the proposed guidelines.

If approved and implemented, the tardy paddy procurement is expected to be resolved to a great extent as upgradation of quality of rice would enable the government agencies and traders to sell the commodity in the international market at a premium.

Jatinder Karir, chairman, Rice Millers’ Association, Ahmedgarh, appreciated that the Centre had initiated a process for implementing suggestions of local entrepreneurs regarding improvement of quality of rice by changing specification from existing 25 per cent broken to 10 per cent and segregating extra broken separately.

“Though we are yet to receive any instructions regarding change in percentage of broken rice, we are glad that the government has initiate a process to amend the existing policy,” said Karir.

Perusal of a communiqué received at offices of the Food Corporation of India revealed that the central agency has been asked to launch a pilot project for studying the outcome of proposed change in uniform specifications regarding percentage of broken grain for raw and parboiled rice.

“I am directed to forward herewith the uniform specification for improved rice and segregated broken grain for raw and parboiled rice. The proposed uniform specifications are ad-hoc in nature and are meant for the pilot study for achieving the rice up to 10 per cent broken and extra-broken separately. The final uniform specifications of the ‘broken rice grain’ and of the ‘segregated broken grain’ shall be finalised based on the outcomes of the aforementioned pilot study,” reads the communiqué addressed to the Chairman and Managing Director Food Corporation of India.

The millers added that uniform specification for broken grain for raw rice was 25 per cent and 16 per cent for parboiled. Now, 10 per cent broken grain had been proposed for both, said the sheller owners.

This article has been republished from The Tribune.