Lok Sabha Question No. 1615 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Relaxing Moisture Norms for Paddy Procurement
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Thiru Dayanidhi Maran, Shri Matheswaran V S, Shri Raja A

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1615

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10Tl-1 DECEMBER, 2025

## RELAXING  MOISTURE  NORMS FOR PADDY PROCUREMENT

## 1615. THIRU DAYANIDHI MARAN:

SHRI RAJA A:

SHRI MATHESWARAN V S:

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

- (a) whether the Union  Government is ready to revise Tamil Nadu's rice procurement target for Kharif  2025-26 from  16 lakh MT  to the actual production and procurement levels recorded this season and if so, the status of approval and the reasons for any delay;
- (b) whether  any  action  has  been  taken  on  the  recommendation of  the  Union Government's moisture-assessment teams and if  so, the details thereof and if  not, the reasons for the continued delay in relaxing moisture norms from  17 per cent to 22 per cent which is urgently needed due to the North-East  Monsoon;
- (c) whether the Government would  reconsider the State's request to  relax moisture norms for paddy procurement to protect the farmers especially when such relaxation had been given in the past
- (d) if  so, the details thereof including  the reaction of the Union Government  thereto;
- (e) whether the Government would  approve Tamil  Nadu's  request to  increase Fortified  Rice Kernel (FRK)  packing size from 25 kg to 50 kg and revise the sample lot  size from  10 MT to 25 MT  and if  so, the details  thereof;  and
- (f) the details of  the immediate steps being taken by the Union  Government to  protect paddy farmers in Tamil Nadu from  procurement losses?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): The estimates for  procurement of  paddy are finalized  by GoI, in consultation with  the State Governments before the commencement of each marketing season, based on estimated  production, marketable surplus, and crop patterns.  Accordingly, the estimates of  procurement of  paddy for KMS 2025-26 (Kharif crop) in Tamil Nadu have been fixed at 16.00 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) (in terms of rice).  The actual procurement of paddy in the state, as on 04.12.2025 is 9.95 LMT  (in terms of rice).

The requests for  enhancement in  procurement estimates are examined with  regard to the quantity and pace of procurement during the procurement  period.

(b) to (d): The request of the State Government of  Tamil Nadu for raising the permissible moisture content for  paddy procurement from  17% to  22%  has not  been considered due to following facts:

- i. Paddy  can  be  dried  before  milling, procurement  of  excessively  moist paddy  introduces significant operational risk, including  loss of stock during storage and compromised milling recovery.
- ii. Paddy with  high moisture content is  susceptible to rapid deterioration, fungal growth, discoloration, and infestation.
- iii. The State Governments have been advised time and again to endeavor to develop the driage facility at procuring stages.

The relaxation in moisture content has no direct financial  implication  on farmers, therefore, such relaxation is no longer considered.

- (e): The Government has revised the Fortified  Rice Kernel (FRK) sample size from  10 Metric Ton (MT)  to 21 MT  and packaging size from  25 Kg to 50 Kg.
- (f): As per the Government's policy  of  procurement of  foodgrains, stocks conforming to the Government of India (GoI) specifications which are offered by the farmers at Purchase centers are procured by the Government Agencies at Minimum  Support Price (MSP). However, if  the farmers get prices better than MSP in open market, they are free to sell their produce.

+cSe  see RSc