FCI procures 39.65 lakh MT of paddy in Haryana

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has procured 39.65 lakh MT of paddy in Haryana in 2022-23. There is an estimated area under cultivation for Rice is 13.19 lakh hectare for KMS 2022-23 corresponding to which expected procurement for paddy in central pool is 55 lakh MT in Haryana. 

It has been observed that there has been abnormally high arrival of paddy compared to last year procurement in some of the districts like Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Ambala, Yamunanagar and  few other districts where paddy arrival has already reached estimated targets for whole season. A total of 4,83,094 farmers are benefited. FCI Haryana Region has procured 25.7 LMT Fortified Rice during  2021-22 and Govt. on India has decided to procure 100% Fortified rice in  2022-23. Further, to ensure that good quality  Fortified Rice Kernel  (FRK)  is used for blending, the FCI is getting samples checked from NABL accredited labs for ensuring the levels of micronutrient content on monthly/quarterly basis before its distribution under various schemes of Gogvernment of Indai (GOI)  in a balanced and integrated manner to accomplish the nutritional gaps.

Haryana Region  has 4.5 LMT capacity in the form of Silos at 6 locations i.e Jind, Sonipat, Bhattu, Panipat, Rohtak and Solumajra for grain storage. Further, tenders for 66 locations having a capacity of 24.75 LMT have been floated under DBFOO Project-1 and 2 by June’ 2022. Out of these, 12 locations having a capacity of 3 LMT pertain to Haryana Region. It is pertinent to mention that the 12 spokes which are currently in tender enquiry stage are basically proposed in vicinity of Mandies which makes them more convenient to farmers to get their produce for sale. Envisaged in the year 2000 under the National Policy on Bulk Handling, Storage and Transportation, the scheme was first operationalized in the Circuit Model of Silos in the year 2007. In 2016, Under DBFOO Mode, a total of 249 Silos having a capacity of 100 LMT have been earmarked by GOI. Further, it is proposed to construct 17 Silos across the country in DBFOT mode. 

 A senior official of FCI informed that to address the anemia and micronutrient deficiency Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on “Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System has been launched . Further, the Department of Food and Public Distribution in consultation with Ministry of Women and Child Development and Department of School Education and Literacy has decided to scale up the distribution of fortified rice in all Integrated Child Development Scheme, (ICDS) and PM POSHAN (erstwhile MDM scheme) schemes from April 2021 in a phased manner leveraging domestic Supply chain through Food Corporation of India (FCI)/State as the case may be.

Rice fortification is the process of addition of vitamins and micronutrients such as Iron, Folic acid and Vitamin B12 to rice, thereby improving its nutritional content. By adding vitamins and micronutrients, diseases like Anemia, Thalassemia etc can be improved.