Relaxation for PAU-201,but millers’ problems continue

About 40 lakh tonnes of this variety was procured by various agencies during the last procurement season and its milling is yet to begin in all the districts of the state.

Tarsem Saini,president of the Punjab Rice Millers Association says,“While the problem of broken rice is across the state,the problem of damaged grain or pin-point damage was specific to these three sub-divisions. Majority of area under PAU-201 falls in these three divisions.”

As per the orders issued by Dr Ashok Kumar,Deputy Commissioner (S&R),union ministry of consumer affairs,food and public distribution,the relaxation has not been given to the Majha and Doaba belts. Moreover,on an average only 25 per cent of milling of the paddy has completed in the state till now and the March 31 deadline has not been extended by the Union government.

The rice millers’ association of Moga district,while demanding the extension of time period,said the shortage of labour,ensuing summer season and power woes are likely to add to the problems of the millers. When asked about the future of PAU 201 whether farmers should go in for its sowing the coming Kharif season Saini added,“The Punjab government had asked the Centre to allow a one-time relaxation and issue guidelines for the next season. While the relaxation has come,the Centre is silent on the issue whether the farmers should buy PAU-201 seeds or not,” Saini said.