Reap Worries about Transportation Hurdles Due to Axle Load Restrictions
Published on: November 30, 2023.
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Lahore: The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has expressed concern over the recent axle load restrictions imposed by the Punjab Government. Haseeb Ali Khan, Senior Vice Chairman of REAP, claims that transporters are refusing to load paddy from farms to mills due to the implementation of this law.
The Basmati Paddy season in Punjab and Sindh is currently in full swing. However, transporters have refused to load paddy from farms due to the load restrictions. This law now requires almost double the number of transportation carriers to effectively transport paddy from fields to mills within 24 hours post-harvest. This time constraint is necessary to ensure proper drying of the paddy and to prevent the generation of mycotoxins.
In 2022, Pakistan received over 40 rapid alerts from the EU regarding aflatoxins in rice. However, through effective management by rice exporters, this number has been reduced to only 10 in 2023. The current load restrictions are causing significant delays in the transportation of paddy to mills due to the limited availability of transportation options. Furthermore, the generation of mycotoxins poses a risk to over 400,000 tons of trade, amounting to USD 500 million annually.
Haseeb Ali Khan emphasizes the need to enhance transportation carriers before the implementation of such laws. This would ensure that there are enough carriers available to ship the paddy to dryers in a timely and efficient manner. He has requested a 2-month delay in the implementation of this law or an exemption for paddy and rice transportation.
The refusal of transporters to load paddy may result in heavy losses for farmers and rice exporters. The All Pakistan Transport Workers Union has reported that before the introduction of axle load restrictions, different types of trawlers used to carry varying capacities of paddy. For example, a 22-wheeler trawler could carry 74 tons, an 18-wheeler could carry 60 tons, a 14-wheeler trawler could carry 50 tons, a 10-wheeler trawler could carry 45 tons, a 6-wheeler Hino could carry 26 tons, and a Mazda vehicle could carry 13 tons.
The All Pakistan Transporters have announced a strike for Monday, which will further contribute to delays and a potential degradation of grain at farms. REAP urges the government to address this issue urgently to prevent any negative impact on rice exports.
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