Paddy procurement: tare, moisture deduction and a disputed reading
At a government paddy procurement centre in Bankura, a farmer brings 14 bags of paddy. The weighbridge shows gross 62.40 quintals; the empty trolley weighs 18.20 quintals. The centre's displayed purchase rules state: foreign matter above 2% is deducted at double the excess percentage; moisture above 17% attracts a deduction of 1.2 kg per quintal for every 1% above 17%; broken grains above 5% are paid at 90% of MSP. Deductions are applied sequentially on the net weight after the preceding deduction. The sample tests show 3.5% foreign matter, 19.4% moisture and 7% broken grains. The notified MSP is Rs 2,300 per quintal. The farmer says he should be paid for 62 quintals and disputes the moisture reading. Ninety farmers are waiting, and the centre closes in four hours. The farmer is willing to wait for a re-test but wants the payment today.
1. Calculate the net weight after admissible deductions and the amount payable. Show each step.
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Net paddy weight = gross − tare = 62.40 − 18.20 = 44.20 quintals. The farmer's claim of 62 quintals is wrong because it ignores the trolley tare; even the gross weight is only 62.40 quintals.
Foreign matter: excess over 2% = 3.5 − 2.0 = 1.5%. At double the excess, deduction = 3.0%. Deduction = 44.20 × 0.03 = 1.326 quintals. Balance = 42.874 quintals.
Moisture: excess over 17% = 19.4 − 17.0 = 2.4%. Deduction rate = 1.2 × 2.4 = 2.88 kg per quintal = 2.88%. Deduction = 42.874 × 0.0288 = 1.2348 quintals. Balance = 41.6392 quintals.
Broken grains: 7% is above 5%, so the rate is 90% of MSP = 0.90 × 2,300 = Rs 2,070 per quintal.
Payable = 41.6392 × 2,070 = Rs 86,193.20 (approximately). The order of deductions matters; this uses the centre's stated sequential method.
2. How should you handle the farmer's dispute and the queue without bypassing the procurement rules?
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Explain the calculation to the farmer on paper, including the tare deduction and the sequential deduction rule. Offer a re-test of moisture with a calibrated meter in the farmer's presence. If the reading is still disputed, draw a sealed sample under the centre's procedure, give the farmer a receipt, and send it to the notified laboratory; payment then follows the report or the admissible provisional amount, not the farmer's gross figure. Do not pay for 62 quintals merely to clear the queue. For queue management, open a second weighing/sampling line and a separate dispute desk so that one disputed lot does not block 90 farmers. Issue tokens and receipts, and record the re-test. With four hours for 90 farmers, the average available time is 240 ÷ 90 = 2.67 minutes per farmer, which is unrealistic on one counter; additional staff or a second counter is necessary, not a shortcut in sampling.
3. If the centre must clear 90 farmers in four hours, what average handling time does that require, and what operational decision follows?
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Four hours = 240 minutes. Required average = 240 ÷ 90 = 2.67 minutes per farmer. That is below a realistic time for weighing, sampling, moisture testing, receipt writing and payment authorisation. The operational conclusion is that a single counter cannot clear the queue without cutting corners, which is not acceptable. Deploy a second weighbridge/sampling team so that the effective average becomes about 5.3 minutes per farmer across two counters, or pre-register farmers and complete sampling in batches while keeping disputed lots at a separate desk. The calculation supports adding capacity; it does not justify skipping the moisture test or accepting the farmer's inflated weight.