Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 09: A high- level delegation from the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines paid a courtesy visit to Odisha and met Chief Secretary Anu Garg. The delegation was led by Dr. Nese Sreenivasulu, Principal Scientist and Indian Research Coordinator at IRRI headquarters.
As per reports a specialty Rice and Millet factory is expected to come up in Odisha soon. “Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, joined the meeting to review ongoing strategic collaborations between the department and the international research body.
The proposed Speciality Rice and Millet Factory-cum-Training Centre in Bhubaneswar forms the centerpiece of Odisha’s strategic push to transform its post-harvest agricultural economy and scale up regional food processing.
The modern processing facility is designed as a pilot plant integrated with an on-site laboratory, dedicated to processing climate-resilient crop varieties, health-focused Low Glycemic Index (Low-GI) rice, and native landraces like the aromatic Kalajeera rice. Equipped with specialized machinery for rice milling, wire-cut technology, and millet processing, the unit enables the production of value-added products such as specialty grain cookies, ready-to-cook mixes, and nutritionally enriched food items utilizing broken rice grains.
Beyond industrial processing, the infrastructure functions as a central hub for capacity building and rural entrepreneurship. Developed in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and state initiatives like the Odisha Millets Mission and Mission Shakti, the facility trains local Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in advanced post-harvest techniques, packaging, and commercial enterprise management.
The Government of Odisha reaffirmed its commitment to modernizing the state agricultural ecosystem, supporting farmer livelihoods, and expanding international technical partnerships through key infrastructure projects like “Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, joined the meeting to review ongoing strategic collaborations between the department and the international research body.
The proposed Speciality Rice and Millet Factory-cum-Training Centre in Bhubaneswar forms the centerpiece of Odisha’s strategic push to transform its post-harvest agricultural economy and scale up regional food processing.
The modern processing facility is designed as a pilot plant integrated with an on-site laboratory, dedicated to processing climate-resilient crop varieties, health-focused Low Glycemic Index (Low-GI) rice, and native landraces like the aromatic Kalajeera rice. Equipped with specialized for rice milling, wire-cut technology, and millet processing, the unit enables the production of value-added products such as specialty grain cookies, ready-to-cook mixes, and nutritionally enriched food items utilizing broken rice grains.
