THEBUSINESSBYES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026

The Odisha government has outlined an ambitious plan to establish a state-of-the-art Rice and Millet Factory aimed at empowering farmers, promoting indigenous grain varieties and creating globally competitive brands from the state’s traditional agricultural produce.

The proposed facility, spread over an approved area of 3,845 square metres, is envisaged as a farmer-driven venture with ownership and participation from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), backed by private enterprise and institutional support.

The plan was discussed at a high-level meeting attended by Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of WCD, Mission Shakti and Tourism Pravati Parida, Principal Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, including Dr Nese Sreenivasul, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary Mansi Nimbhal and senior officials of the Agriculture and Mission Shakti departments.

The initiative seeks to combine modern processing infrastructure with community ownership to ensure that a greater share of the economic value generated from agricultural produce reaches farmers and local agricultural communities.

At the heart of the project is a focus on healthier, high-yielding and traditional rice varieties, with emphasis on farmer training, wider adoption of quality seeds and direct integration with markets. The approach is expected to strengthen farmers' participation across the value chain, from cultivation and quality assessment to processing and marketing.

As part of the initiative, 29 indigenous rice varieties have undergone detailed evaluation on parameters including glycemic index, protein content, milling efficiency, aroma and texture. The assessment is expected to help identify and promote varieties suited to specialised domestic and international markets.

A dedicated Raw Rice Unit is proposed to support farmers cultivating low-glycemic-index rice and premium varieties such as Kalajeera, while a Specialty Black Rice initiative is being planned with a focus on export markets.

The proposed factory will also go beyond conventional grain processing by producing a range of value-added products. These are expected to include multi-millet flakes, thick IRRI-147 rice flakes, jeera cookies and other baked products for retail and wider commercial distribution.

The products are proposed to be marketed through Subhadra Shakti Bazaars, besides being positioned for markets outside Odisha and overseas.

The project is expected to provide a platform for Odisha’s farmers, FPOs and SHGs to participate directly in the processing and branding of indigenous agricultural products, while creating opportunities for higher-value markets.

By bringing together traditional crop diversity, scientific evaluation, modern food-processing technology and community-led enterprise, the proposed factory aims to build a distinctive and globally recognised brand for Odisha’s rice and millet products, officials said.