MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a)to(e): Requests have been received from some State Governments including Andhra Pradesh
and Orissa for relaxation in uniform specification norms for procurement of paddy/rice due to
unseasonal rains affecting the quality of paddy during Kharif marketing season (KMS) 2010-11.
On receipt of the request of the State Governments for relaxation in quality norms, Joint
Teams of officers of Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, Food
Corporation of India and concerned State Government collected the paddy samples from affected
areas and based on the analysis results of the field samples, relaxations in uniform
specifications have been allowed by the Government to mitigate the hardships of farmers and to
avoid distress sale. Details of relaxations in uniform specifications of paddy/rice allowed
for KMS 2010-11 to various States are annexed.
ANNNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.56 DUE FOR ANSWER
ON 22-2-2011 IN LOK SABHA
Details of relaxations in uniform specifications of paddy/rice allowed to the States
for KMS 2010-11
1. Andhra Pradesh
Paddy
Relaxation in damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains allowed up to a maximum limit
of 10.0% against the existing limit of 4.0%, subject to the condition that damaged, sprouted
and weevilled grains together do not exceed 5%.
Rice
(i) The limit of damaged/slightly damaged grains including pin point damaged grains in raw rice
is relaxed upto 4% against the existing limit of 3% in raw rice for custom milled and levy
rice.
(ii) The limit of broken grains in raw rice is relaxed upto 30% against the existing limit
of 25% in raw rice for custom milled and levy rice.
(iii)The limit of discoloured grains in raw rice is relaxed up to 7% against the existing
limit of 3% for custom milled and levy rice.
The relaxation in paddy & rice are applicable in eight affected districts namely East
Godawari, Vishakapattnam, Guntoor, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, West Godawari, Krishna and
Prakasham. Besides, relaxation in paddy will also be applicable in Nalgonda and Khamam
districts and in case of rice, one lakh ton rice in Nalgonda and 20,000 ton rice in Khamam district including CMR can be procured under relaxed specifications.
2. Chhattisgarh
Paddy -
Relaxation in damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains allowed up to a maximum limit
of 7% against the existing limit of 4.0%, subject to the condition that damaged, sprouted and
weevilled grains together do not exceed 5%.
The relaxation is applicable in seven affected districts of Chhatisgarh namely Raipur,Dhamtari, Kanker, Jagdalpur, Durg, Kabirdham and Bilaspur.
3. Orissa
Paddy –
(i) Relaxation in damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains allowed up to a maximum
limit of 10% against the existing limit of 4%, subject to the condition that damaged, sprouted
and weevilled grains together do not exceed 5%.
(ii) Relaxation in immature, shrunken and shrivelled grains allowed upto a maximum limit of 5%
against the existing limit of 3% provided under uniform specifications.
The relaxation in paddy is applicable in eleven affected districts of Orissa namely
Sambalpur, Baragarh, Subarnapur, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada,
Koraput and Nabarangpur.
4. Punjab
Paddy –
Relaxation in damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains allowed up to a maximum limit
of 10% against the existing limit of 4%, subject to the condition that damaged, sprouted and
weevilled grains together do not exceed 4% to the entire State of Punjab.
Rice –
The limit of damaged/slightly damaged grains including pin point damaged grains is relaxed
upto 4% against the existing limit of 3%, subject to the condition that damaged/slightly
damaged grains should not exceed 3% in custom milled raw rice for the entire State of Punjab.
5. Tamil Nadu
Paddy -
(i) Relaxation in damaged, discoloured, sprouted and weevilled grains allowed up to a maximum
limit of 5% against the existing limit of 4%.
(ii) The maximum limit in respect of moisture content in paddy grains allowed up 20% against
the existing limit of 17% under uniform specifications.
These relaxations are applicable in the districts of Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinum
in Tamil Nadu.
