The upcoming paddy procurement season in Haryana, scheduled to begin in late September, has hit a major roadblock as rice millers have formally declared a “non-cooperation” stance against the state government.
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The Financial Standoff: The North Haryana Rice Millers’ Association chairman, Satpal Gupta, alleged that the state procurement agencies (HAFED, HWRC, and Food & Supplies Dept.) have not cleared dues for driage, unloading, and transportation charges dating back to 2020. The total outstanding amount has now ballooned to ₹500 crore, pushing many small-scale millers to the brink of bankruptcy.
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Contentious Milling Norms: Millers are specifically opposing the new CMR Policy 2024-25, which they claim is “mathematically impossible.” Key grievances include:
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Broken Rice Limit: The government demands a 67% rice recovery with a low percentage of broken grains, which millers say is unachievable given the quality of paddy arrivals.
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Driage Charges: The reduction of driage (moisture loss) allowance from 1% to 0.5% is a major bone of contention, as millers claim natural weight loss during storage is much higher.
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The Storage Glut: Millers have highlighted a critical shortage of space in Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns. Approximately 2.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice from the previous season is still lying in mills because the FCI has been unable to lift it, leaving no room for the fresh crop.
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Political Impact: This boycott comes at a sensitive time, just weeks before the state elections. If millers refuse to lift paddy, the grain markets (mandis) will face a massive glut, leading to farmer unrest. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has indicated a willingness to discuss a “bonus” or “milling charge hike” to break the deadlock.
