The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has approved an increase in its target for procuring parboiled (mushy) rice from Odisha following a request from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, confirmed that the FCI will now procure an additional 8 lakh metric tonnes of parboiled rice. This raises the Kharif season target from 40 to 47 lakh metric tonnes, and the Rabi season target from 10 to 11 lakh metric tonnes.
Dharmendra Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister Joshi, stating the total procurement target of 58 lakh metric tonnes will "strengthen the financial condition of the farmers of Odisha" and boost the state's economy. The decision comes after Pradhan wrote to the ministry on August 4th urging for an increased procurement target.