Farmers cry foul over ‘moisture manipulation’ by rice millers, officials

Farmers in Fazilka and Muktsar districts are continuously alleging that rice millers, along with some officials of the market committee and foodgrain procurement agencies, were deliberately showing higher moisture content in paddy to make deductions from their payments.

Some farmers even staged a protest at the grain market in Abohar on Saturday and informed the market committee chairman about the issue.

A farmer from Beganwali village in Fazilka also alleged that a 2-kg deduction was sought from him on the promise of higher moisture content. At the Bhallaiana grain market in Gidderbaha sub-division here, some farmers complained of filling excess paddy in bags. They also complained that an executive of a rice mill was interfering in the working of market committee officials.

Navneet Singh, a farmer from Doda village, alleged that the procurement had not started till date.

After this, some SDMs have also visited the mandis to review the situation. Meanwhile, the market committee officials have penalised a commission agent of Bhallaiana village as well.

Some alert farmers are now even going live on Facebook, alleging that different machines are showing different moisture readings. Notably, 17 per cent moisture in the paddy crop is permissible.

Notably, Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur had on Thursday warned rice millers in Malout of stern action if they were found indulging in any malpractice during the ongoing paddy procurement season.

The minister said she had visited the grain market in Malout that day to review the arrangements and had received a complaint that a rice miller was deliberately showing higher moisture content in paddy to make deductions from farmers’ payments. However, upon verification, the moisture content was found to be lower than what was being claimed by the miller.

Similarly, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has said that he will not spare anyone found making such deductions. “I have spoken to the Principal Secretary of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs as well. I will not allow such malpractices. I also urge procurement agencies, commission agents and rice millers to work together,” he said.