FMTC cites high moisture for delay in buying farmers' rice

KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 17: At a time when the farmers have been agitated after the government did not buy the rice at the support price it had fixed, the Food Management and Trade Company (FMTC)  has said it was too early to buy the rice, and the time is yet to come for quality rice. The price is yet to be fully dry because it is harvested recently.

The Company has planned to buy 30,020 metric tonnes of rice this year. For this, it has allocated Rs 990 million. In the first round, it will buy 20,900 metric tonnes of rice. Among this, 10,000 metric tonnes of rice have been purchased. Till Thursday, the Company had bought 6,700 quintals of rice from Rajapur of Banke and 3,200 quintals of rice from Dhangadhi, Kailali.

Deputy Executive Officer of the Company, Shreemani Raj Khanal, informed the purchase of rice was begun since last Friday. "We have been buying the rice for a week from Rajapur and Dhangadhi," he said, adding as the government had committed to buying the rice from farmers, so they need to be patient for some time. He informed that the rice should have less than 18 percent moisture when it is purchased. It is the government criteria. When it is readied for sale quickly after harvest, the rice has more moisture, he added. Although it has more weight, it has less quality, Khanal added.

As the rice is harvested early in the western belt of the country, the Company began buying from there. It will gradually buy the rice in the eastern belt. Spokesperson at Company, Sharmila Neupane, also informed that the Company was not against farmers, but waiting for the right time and quality. 

RSS