In a bid to assist farmers and rice millers, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has introduced a 1% exemption on the milling of non-hybrid paddy. This move is poised to benefit numerous farmers and drive employment opportunities throughout Uttar Pradesh.
The recent policy change entails a 1% relaxation in recovery norms for rice mills that process non-hybrid paddy, aiming to ease the burden on millers. Consequently, millers can offer improved prices and expedited services to farmers, ultimately enhancing the state’s paddy procurement system.
Furthermore, the initiative is expected to stimulate rural employment and investments. The expansion of rice mill operations is projected to create nearly two lakh job opportunities, fostering competition among millers and enhancing procurement efficiency.
The scheme is set to directly benefit around 13 to 15 lakh farmers and over 2,000 rice millers in Uttar Pradesh. To support this endeavor, the government has allocated Rs 167 crore for reimbursement to the mills, ensuring equitable returns for farmers and bolstering the capacity of rice mills during the ongoing procurement season.
Additionally, the government emphasizes that the decision will result in national-level savings. By enhancing rice recovery within the state, the reliance on importing rice stocks from other states for the Public Distribution System (PDS) will diminish, reducing logistics costs and external dependencies.
It is notable that the state already grants a 3% recovery exemption for milling hybrid paddy, costing the government approximately Rs 100 crore annually. The newly introduced 1% exemption for non-hybrid paddy aims to provide balanced benefits across all farmer categories.