Punjab state has commenced the harvesting of kharif (summer) paddy crops and it is aiming to procure 120 lakh tonnes (LT) of the grain this season. In view of crop diversification the production of common variety rice is expected to be lower due to which the target for rice procurement is lower by 2 LT from the previous year. The area under basmati rice is higher as compared to common variety rice.
The state Food and Agriculture Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon in his meeting with the Union Food Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan demanded that the Centre direct state-run FCI to accept rice that has moisture level of up to 14 percent with one percent value cut.
Since the centre has demanded to pack 40 kilos of rice in a bag, the state Food and Agriculture Minister has also demanded that the state be allowed to pack 37.5 kilos of rice in a bag till the time a central team comes and evaluates how much quantity of grain can be filled a bag.