Odisha Plans State-of-the-Art Rice and Millet Factory with Farmer, FPO and SHG Ownership

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is planning to set up a state-of-the-art Rice and Millet Factory aimed at taking indigenous rice and millet varieties from farms to premium domestic and international markets while ensuring greater economic returns for farmers.

The proposed facility, spread over 3,845 square metres, will follow a farmer-driven model with participation from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), backed by private and institutional support.

The plan was outlined during a high-level meeting attended by Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister and Women & Child Development, Mission Shakti and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida, IRRI Philippines Principal Scientist Dr Nese Sreenivasul, Agriculture Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Mission Shakti Commissioner Mansi Nimbhal and senior officials.

The initiative seeks to strengthen Odisha’s traditional rice economy by promoting healthier and high-yielding indigenous varieties through farmer training, improved seed adoption and direct market linkages. The emphasis will be on ensuring that a larger share of the value generated from processing and marketing reaches farming communities.

Farmers will also have a direct role in quality evaluation and varietal selection. So far, 29 indigenous rice varieties have been assessed on parameters including glycemic index, protein content, milling efficiency, aroma and texture.

The proposed factory will cater to specialised markets through a Raw Rice Unit, with a focus on low-glycemic-index varieties and Kalajeera rice. A separate Specialty Black Rice initiative is also being planned with an eye on export markets.

The facility will go beyond primary grain processing and produce a range of value-added products, including multi-millet flakes, thick IRRI-147 rice flakes, jeera cookies and other baked products. These products are proposed to be marketed through Subhadra Shakti Bazaars, besides being supplied to markets outside Odisha and overseas.

The government hopes that the combination of modern processing infrastructure, farmer participation and community ownership will help create a strong market identity for Odisha’s indigenous agricultural products and build a globally recognised brand from the state.