Dist collectors asked to relax FAQ standards if possible, min assures distressed farmers | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Amidst reports of crop loss from across state due to unseasonal rain and farmers expressing concern about meeting Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of paddy for procurement at mandis, food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra said district collectors have been asked to help the farmers and if possible, relax the FAQ standards. “It is not possible to fully compromise on the FAQ standards. The standards are set by the Central govt and if the crops don’t meet them, the paddy will not be accepted by the Food Corporation of India, which would lead to further problems for the farmers,” Patra said, adding that “At the district level, the collectors can take a call and will decide how much relaxation can be provided and which paddy will be accepted for procurement.”
The minister further said, “The govt understands the distress farmers are facing due to the damage caused by unseasonal rain. We don’t want farmers to be denied the minimum support price due to slight quality issues. But if the paddy is completely damaged or soaked, then nothing can be done.”
Continuous rain triggered by low pressure and western disturbance for the last several days has left crops discoloured and moisture-laden, raising fears of rejection at procurement centres or mandis.
But farm leaders are not ready to accept what the minister said. “When the state govt officials are not taking clean and dry paddy from mandis and rejecting large amounts and leading to farmers’ distress, how can they procure soiled and damaged paddy? The govt should demand the Under Relaxed Specification (URS) provision from the Centre for such conditions,” Ashok Pradhan, a farmer leader, said. He added that the govt should issue clear guidelines to ensure uniformity in implementation. “A uniform policy and written notification will prevent confusion and ensure timely procurement,” Pradhan added.
URS may be accepted by the state govt in the event of a natural calamity like unseasonal rain. The rice produced from URS paddy is then used in the public distribution system as per the direction of the Government of India, sources said.
The minister further said, “The govt understands the distress farmers are facing due to the damage caused by unseasonal rain. We don’t want farmers to be denied the minimum support price due to slight quality issues. But if the paddy is completely damaged or soaked, then nothing can be done.”
Continuous rain triggered by low pressure and western disturbance for the last several days has left crops discoloured and moisture-laden, raising fears of rejection at procurement centres or mandis.
But farm leaders are not ready to accept what the minister said. “When the state govt officials are not taking clean and dry paddy from mandis and rejecting large amounts and leading to farmers’ distress, how can they procure soiled and damaged paddy? The govt should demand the Under Relaxed Specification (URS) provision from the Centre for such conditions,” Ashok Pradhan, a farmer leader, said. He added that the govt should issue clear guidelines to ensure uniformity in implementation. “A uniform policy and written notification will prevent confusion and ensure timely procurement,” Pradhan added.
URS may be accepted by the state govt in the event of a natural calamity like unseasonal rain. The rice produced from URS paddy is then used in the public distribution system as per the direction of the Government of India, sources said.
