CM Bhagwant Mann Initiatives Yield Results: GOI Agrees to Key Demands of Millers and Aarthias

Centre Grants Major Relief to Punjab Millers and Aarthias After Meeting with CM Bhagwant Mann

New Delhi/Chandigarh, October 14– In a significant development, the Union government has agreed to most of the demands raised by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during a meeting with Union Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Minister Prahlad Joshi. The Chief Minister, along with Punjab BJP President Mohan Lal Badoli, discussed key issues affecting the state’s millers, aarthias, and farmers as the state prepares to procure 185 LMT paddy and deliver 125 LMT of fortified rice during the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25.

Chief Minister Mann emphasized the importance of paddy procurement, likening it to a festival for Punjab’s economy and its vital role in the country’s food security. However, he highlighted concerns over a storage crunch, with only 7 lakh MT of space available. Mann urged the Union Minister to expedite the movement of 20 LMT of food grains per month from Punjab until March 2025 under OMSS, ethanol allocation, export, and welfare schemes. In response, Prahlad Joshi assured the transportation of 120 LMT paddy out of the state by the deadline.

The Chief Minister also pressed the Union government on the issue of transportation costs incurred by rice millers due to FCI depots being located far from milling centers, sometimes even outside the state. Joshi assured that the Centre would bear these transportation costs to ensure fair treatment for the millers.

Mann further raised concerns regarding the reduction in driage allowance from 1% to 0.5% of MSP last season, which led to financial losses for millers. The Union Minister responded by confirming that a study on the matter was being conducted at IIT Kharagpur, with Punjab’s viewpoint included.

Addressing the Out-Turn Ratio (OTR) of hybrid paddy varieties, Mann informed that these less water-consuming varieties need reassessment for OTR, as millers report a lower yield than the 67% mandated by the government. The Union Minister praised Punjab’s initiative in promoting these eco-friendly varieties and assured cooperation for their expansion.

Another major demand centered around the commission for aarthias, which hasn’t increased since 2019-20. Despite increasing MSP for crops, aarthias continue to receive Rs 45.38–46 per quintal. Mann urged the Union government to revise the commission to 2.5% of MSP, aligning it with the Punjab State Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act, which would result in Rs 58 per quintal for the current season. Joshi assured the state government that this demand would be sympathetically considered in the next meeting.

Punjab’s continued contribution to the central pool, especially during challenging years like the COVID-19 pandemic and weather disruptions, underscores its role in ensuring national food security, Mann added.

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