Explainer: Moisture content plays a key role in smooth procurement of wheat

By Nitish Sharma

The wheat procurement season is on and the arrivals at the grain markets have gathered pace. However, the farmers often complain about delay in procurement as agencies refuse to purchase stocks due to a higher moisture content. The moisture content in produce plays a key role in the smooth procurement process in the grain markets.

What is the prescribed limit?

The prescribed limit for moisture content in wheat is 12 per cent but due to rain, lower temperature and early harvesting the farmers often reach the grain markets with the produce containing higher moisture content levels. During the procurement, the moisture content is checked with the help of moisture meters. If the moisture content is on the higher side, the procurement agencies refuse to procure the wheat stock and the farmers are forced to wait for the moisture content to come down. It also creates shortage of space for the fresh arrivals at the grain markets.

What do the farmers and the Opposition demand?

After the recent rains, the moisture content in the produce is on the higher side. Hence the farmers and the Opposition leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda have raised the demand of increasing the exemption limit for moisture content in wheat from 12 per cent to 14 per cent, to provide relief to farmers. The former CM said the farmers were complaining that the government agencies were refusing to buy wheat citing high moisture content, which was due to unseasonal rain.

Also read: Increase exemption limit for moisture content in wheat from 12% to14%:Hooda

What is the impact of higher moisture in grain?

A procurement agency official said higher moisture content in wheat stock could lead to reduction in grain quality and weight, besides it can also lead to fungus growth and spoilage. The produce with higher moisture content makes it unsuitable for storage.

What do the procurement agencies advise?

Due to higher moisture content the agencies face difficulties in procurement. The District Food and Civil Supplies Controller, Kurukshetra, said the farmers are advised to bring their produce after drying and cleaning properly so that they don’t have to wait at the grain markets. The moisture content should be 12 per cent. The farmers were also advised not to harvest their crops till it attained full maturity, else they would face the issue of higher moisture content in the produce.

This article has been republished from The Tribune.