Lok Sabha Question No. 2765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Moisture Content in  Paddy
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Km. Sudha R, Dr. Ganapathy Rajkumar P, Thiru Thanga Tamilselvan

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2765

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17TH DECEMBER, 2025

## MOISTURE CONTENT IN PADDY

## 2765. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI  THANGAPANDIAN:

KM. SUDHA R:

DR. GANAPATHY RAJKUMAR P: THIRU THANGA TAMILSELVAN:

Will  the Minister  of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): the details of the policy  relating  to the moisture content at the time  of  procurement  of paddy from  farmers;
- (b): the details of  the policy  decision on the percentage of  moisture content from the year 2014 till  the current year along with details of the moisture content in paddy during procurement since 2014, State-wise;
- (c): whether the Government has issued any temporary relaxation of  paddy procurement moisture norms for  example permitting  procurement above the standard 14 percent moisture in response to this  season's extreme rains and cyclones;
- (d): if  so, the exact revised moisture threshold(s), the period of  validity and the States/districts where the relaxation  applies;
- (e): the measures being taken by the Government to  safeguard grain quality, provide storage/transport assistance and prevent distress sales by affected farmers;
- (f): whether  the  Government proposes any  compensation, incentive  or  market-support package for  farmers whose produce  is  adversely affected  by excess moisture  and the timelines for implementation;
- (g): whether the Government  had constituted  and dispatched three teams and visited  the rainaffected districts  inspecting the harvested crops and collecting  paddy samples from  DPCs and farmlands in  Tamil Nadu, if  so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Union Government  in  this  regard;  and
- (h): whether it  is  true that the Union  Government has deputed a team of  senior officials  to Cuddalore district,  Tamil Nadu to physically  measure moisture levels and assess damage  and if so, the details thereoF

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a)  and (b): The department of  Food and Public Distribution issues Uniform
- Specifications for procurement of foodgrains meant for central pool before commencement of every KMS/RMS including maximum limits for moisture content i.e.  17 % in case of paddy. These norms are uniformly  applicable throughout the country.

(c): No relaxation has been granted to any State in moisture content of  Paddy during KMS 2025-26.

(d): The question does not arise in view to the (c) above.

(e): The Department has formulated and issued a Quality Control Manual, in order to maintain the quality standards of  foodgrains from procurement to its distribution to the eligible beneficiaries through various  social security programmes of Government of India. The procured foodgrain are  stored in godown/silos tvhich are  scientifically designed. Further,  based on  the  request received  from  the  state governments,  the  department assess and accord relaxations in various limits  of Uniform  Specifications in order to avoid distress sale by  farmers.

(f): Currently no such proposal under consideration in the Department of Food and Public Distribution.

(g)  and (h): Based on the  request received from  the State Government of  Tamil  Nadu regarding relaxation  in  Uniform Specifications of  Paddy for  KMS  2025-26, the Ministry depute(i, 03 joint  teams to assess the extent of  loss in affected districts of Tamil Nadu. The joint teams visited 12 affected districts vh  Mladurai, Theni, Thiruchirapally, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, May iladuthurai, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvallur,  Cuddalore, Kancheepuram &  Chengalpattu. Based on the report submitted, the relaxation in  Damaged/discoloured/sprouted and weevilled  grain was granted in  the entire state of Tamil Nadu \/ide letter dated 18.11.2025 .

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