FCI states that the move is aimed at benchmarking food grains against global standards.
Bhopal:
A recent proposal by the Center to procure food from farmers at a minimum support price (MSP) has drawn suspicion from farmers and criticism from opposition parties.
Even as farmers in many parts of the country are protesting against the MSP, Food Corporation of India (FCI) has issued a draft proposal to change the quality norms applicable to food grains that are not they buy. NDTV, which owns a draft of the proposal, says the changes are needed to meet international standards for food grains.
While the FCI stated that the move aims to benchmark food grains against global standards to provide better quality to the common people and help with long-term preservation, farmers see a conspiracy to make MSPs inaccessible to them through stricter regulations.
Congress has accused the government of trying to avoid procuring and slashing MSPs, but government sources say the broader goal behind the exercise is to ensure that ordinary people get real products. better quality products and the government will continue this proposal only after a consensus has emerged among the countries on this issue.
On December 31, a meeting notice was issued under the chairmanship of FCI to review the existing quality standards of food grains purchased in the central area and evaluate them with global standards.
Under this draft proposal, recommendations for moisture content in wheat grains have been suggested to be 12% compared with the current limit of 14%. The allowable limit for foreign matter has been reduced from 0.75% to 0.50%. Lightly damaged wheat was also reduced from 4% to 2%. The limit for shriveled and broken seeds has also been reduced from 6% to 4%.
For paddy, the allowable moisture content is reduced from 17% to 16%, the limit of impurities is reduced from 2% to 1%, the limit of damaged grain, discoloration from 5% to 3%. In rice, broken percentage was reduced from 25% to 20% and moisture content from 15 to 14%. The limit for spoiled grains has been reduced by 1% and red grains will not be allowed.
NDTV visited Bhopal’s Karond Mandi, where farmers arrived around 9am, but mandi officials arrived only after 12pm. So we discussed new proposals with farmers.
Marine Kishore Kushwaha, who hails from Dharmara, raises a family of 22 from 17 acres of farmland. He said, “If moisture seeps in, our crop rate will go down. There’s no system for the farmer, just problems from every corner.
Brij Kishore Meena, who owns 40 acres of land, agrees. “If the humidity is higher, the price will be lower. They also know that we can’t do anything about humidity regulation. Right now, we always have to queue to get paid – to sell our products. us, to get fertilizer, seeds … everywhere,” he said.
Some experts and Congress think this is a sign that FCI wants to quit buying cereals. Kedar Sirohi, Former Member of the Agricultural Advisory Council, MP Government said “I feel there is a conspiracy to end MSP. On the one hand, FCI is tightening food procurement regulations but relaxing imports. Our farming is done in different climates and geographies, so there will be a difference in the quality that the government has adopted. .
Government sources defended the decision and said, “FCI is working on a draft roadmap to revise procurement norms with state governments. It has requested all departments. state stakeholders in charge of procurement to engage farmers, millers and other stakeholders in a state-level discussion of the proposed new procurement norm.”
The FCI president chaired a meeting with state secretaries in charge of procurement last week to seek their views on the draft roadmap prepared by FCI. The states have submitted several important proposals.
There are two larger goals behind the proposed revision of procurement norms – to ensure that ordinary people get better quality grains and that purchasing better quality grains helps FCI stores them for a longer time to satisfy future requirements.
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