Workshop on Mini Millet & Rice Factory Operations Highlights SHG-Led Entrepreneurship

Bhubaneswar: A one-day workshop on Mini Millet & Rice Factory Operations and Business Management Strategies was held today at the conference hall of Mission Shakti Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, under the project “Promoting SHG-Led Entrepreneurship through Value Addition.”

The initiative is being implemented through a tripartite agreement between the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Mission Shakti Department, and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), with a total project cost of ₹60.17 crore to be executed over three years. The MoU aims to establish mini factories for the production, processing, packaging, storage, and marketing of millet, low GI rice, and other agriculture-based products through Women Self-Help Group (WSHG) Federations.

As part of the project, a dedicated food court offering Odia delicacies, including millet-based dishes and forgotten traditional foods, will also be set up.

The workshop brought together officials from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), Department of Mission Shakti (DMS), and IRRI. Key discussions focused on a six-month operational plan covering sourcing, processing, branding, packaging, and marketing strategies for low glycemic index rice—including the GI-tagged Kalajeera variety—and millets. Special emphasis was placed on ensuring active participation from self-help groups (SHGs) and farmer producer organizations (FPOs), while integrating the mandates of both DAFE and DMS.