Chandigarh, Dec. 4 -- Rice millers in Punjab are staring at a challenging milling season, as a large portion of the paddy procured during the kharif season has arrived damaged and discoloured beyond the permissible limits of 5%.

Despite the Centre's decision to relax procurement norms for farmers-allowing government agencies to buy paddy with up to 10% discolouration or damage following widespread floods and incessant rainfall in the months of August and September, the same relaxation has not been extended to rice millers responsible for milling the crop.

In a demi official letter, dated November 10, to the state's food and civil supplies department, the nodal agency for food grains procurement in Punjab, the Centre said, "Based on the ...