Rice millers oppose Haryana’s new CMR policy, seek amendments

The Haryana Government late Thursday issued its new custom-milled rice (CMR) policy for 2025-26, triggering resentment among rice millers and dealers across the state, who have demanded amendments.

A major change in the policy is the reduction in the permissible limit of broken rice in deliveries — from 25% earlier to just 10% now. Millers argue this move will add to their burden, as breakage during milling is a natural process.

They also sought clarity on the remaining 15% broken rice. “We demand clarity on 15% remaining broken rice as it is difficult to go with CMR in such circumstances. In the new policy, the government has fixed Rs 2.23 per quintal for additional milling cost to reduce broken rice, Rs 1.23 per quintal for additional storage cost, Rs 3.33 per quintal for packaging charges for broken rice. Against these rates, the processing and handling cost of broken rice is around Rs 25 per quintal,” said Sourabh Gupta, president, Karnal Rice Millers and Dealers Association.

Millers also expressed disappointment over the government’s refusal to provide transportation facilities for shifting paddy from grain markets to FCI godowns. “We and farmers had to face difficulties during season time as transporters get tender without sufficient number of vehicles. Fake vehicle numbers are given to the administration by a couple of transporters, which had already been highlighted in the past,” Gupta alleged.

According to estimates by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, paddy will be sown in about 13.97 lakh acres this year, with arrivals of around 84 lakh MT in mandis and procurement centres. Of this, procurement agencies are expected to purchase about 54 lakh MT and contribute around 36 LMT of CMR — about 67 percent of delivered rice — to the Central pool.

The new policy mandates millers to deliver rice in a staggered manner: 15% by December 2025, 25% by January 2026, 20% by February end, 15% by March-end, another 15% by May end, and the final 10% by June 30. The Centre has fixed the MSP at Rs 2,369 per quintal for common paddy and Rs 2,389 per quintal for Grade ‘A’.

Millers further demanded that FCI godowns be allotted closer to their units. “We had to face lots of difficulties for the last two seasons due to allotment of godowns for delivery of CMR at faraway places. We request the government to allot godowns nearby,” Gupta said.

However, they welcomed one provision in the policy — the extension of the CMR delivery deadline. “We are happy only for extending the date of delivery of CMR to June 30,” Gupta added.