Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has outlined an ambitious plan to construct a state-of-the-art Rice & Millet Factory spanning an approved area of 3,845 square meters.
Designed as an industrial facility with modern processing infrastructure, the factory is a collaborative venture established following high-level strategy sessions led by Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment & Energy, and Smt. Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister for Women and Child Development, Mission Shakti, & Tourism.
Shri Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment outlined deliberations. Key technical and administrative direction for the plant’s operational design involves Dr. Nese Sreenivasulu, Principal Scientist from IRRI Philippines, alongside Ms. Mansi Nimbhal, Secretary for Mission Shakti, along with senior officials from both departments.
The physical plant operates as a farmer-driven, FPO- and SHG-owned, private-driven, and institutionally-supported processing hub. The operational framework encompasses specialized processing units, including a Raw Rice Unit optimized for handling ultra-low glycemic index varieties and Kalajeera rice, alongside a dedicated Specialty Black Rice processing line tailored specifically to meet international export quality standards.
The manufacturing setup extends beyond basic grain processing to include a diverse value-added production line. Industrial machinery within the plant will manufacture multi-millet flakes, thick IRRI-147 rice flakes, jeera cookies, and various baked goods. Operating as a centralized facility, it applies precise technical evaluation standards to process 29 evaluated indigenous varieties, selecting grains based on milling efficiency, protein content, aroma, and texture.
Modern packaging and processing infrastructure will prepare these refined items for broad distribution, supplying retail channels through Subhadra Shakti Bazaars as well as domestic and foreign export markets to build a globally recognized brand for regional agricultural products.