Punjab Millers Face Losses Over New FRK Rice Rules

Punjab's rice millers are expressing strong opposition to the central government's latest instructions concerning the production and distribution of Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) rice. New mandates require FRK manufacturing units to first produce and stockpile fortified rice, with procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) only proceeding after government officials sample and approve the quality. This stringent process has intensified pressure on millers, who are already anticipating substantial losses this season due to the lack of clear timelines for sample clearance.

The situation is further complicated by recent quality issues. In Bhogpur, Jalandhar, a batch of upgraded rice supplied to the FCI was found to be defective, leading to the suspension of several FCI officials. The rejection was due to chaff content exceeding the FSSAI limit of 5%, a defect attributed to rain-affected paddy. Millers argue that while paddy quality was relaxed post-floods, the resulting rice quality issues are not being considered.

Consequently, milling operations have stalled, leaving procured paddy in storage. The Punjab government's request to the Centre to accept non-FRK rice has so far been unaddressed. Millers warn that continued delays will degrade rice quality further, exacerbating financial setbacks. The state food minister acknowledged the challenging season ahead for millers, mirroring potential farmer losses.