Confusion over custom-milled rice delivery as directorate extends deadline in Haryana

Confusion prevails among millers over the delivery of custom-milled rice (CMR) for kharif season 2025-26 after the Directorate of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Haryana, extended the deadline for milling and delivery, while the Food Corporation of India (FCI) simultaneously instructed its district offices not to accept CMR deliveries till further orders.

In a recent order, the Director General (DG), Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, directed all District Food and Supplies Controllers (DFSCs) that the Union government has granted a final extension for the milling of paddy and delivery of CMR to the Central pool till September 30.

The DFSCs have been told to issue directions to the field staff and millers to speed up milling and deliver the CMR balance quantity to the FCI before the revised deadline, said the letter. It was also made clear that no further extension would be granted.

Earlier, as per the CMR policy, millers were required to deliver 15 per cent by December-end, 25 per cent by January-end, 20 per cent by February-end, 15 per cent by March-end, another 15 per cent by May-end and the remaining 10 per cent by June-end. Still a large quantity of rice has not been delivered to the FCI.

The department has already issued notices to millers who have failed to meet their delivery targets. The millers had demanded extension of the deadline, after which the department had constituted multiple teams to conduct physical verification of the mills that were allotted paddy during the procurement season. The teams inspected the mills across the state to assess the status of CMR delivery and verify the quantity of stocks.

“The department has extended the deadline,” said an official.

However, in a separate letter issued by the FCI, Regional Office, Haryana, district managers were instructed not to accept the delivery of rice/CMR until further directions from the Regional Office. The FCI did not specify the reason behind it.

“Both letters have created uncertainty among millers and procurement agencies. One department has extended the delivery period and asked millers to speed up deliveries, while the FCI has stopped the acceptance of CMR at FCI depots. During this season, millers had to face severe difficulties in delivering their stock due to shortage of space at FCI godowns, as millers from neighbouring districts, including Ambala, Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, had been attached to FCI godowns in Karnal for CMR delivery, which led to congestion,” said Raj Kumar Gupta, district president of the Karnal Rice Millers and Dealers Association.

“We request the FCI to accept the delivery of CMR,” said Saurabh Gupta, president of the Karnal Rice Millers and Dealers Association.