In the first instance, the Uttar Pradesh government would modernise over 2,000 rice mills across the state to assure quality control and a higher price for the finished rice.
The action is intended to help the state government achieve self-sufficiency in terms of food and nutrition security, job creation, and wealth generation.
Private rice mills would be modernised, according to Sorabh Babu, Commissioner of Food and Civil Supplies, and the government will make certain required requirements in this respect. The department will meet with the UP Rice Millers Association and millers soon to encourage them to follow suit.
Rice milling is the country's oldest and largest agro-processing sector.
In the state, there are roughly 757 big mills with a milling capacity of 4 tonnes per hour or more, and about 1,157 smaller mills with a milling capacity of less than 4 MT per hour.
The quality of rice deteriorates and does not meet FCI (Food Corporation of India) regulations and standards since smaller scale mills are equipped with traditional machines.
The government hopes to produce high-quality rice through upgrading machinery, increasing capacity, and employing modern technologies.
The Department of Food and Civil Supplies will stimulate rice millers and encourage them to employ technology for this purpose. The government will shortly create criteria for rice mills that employ modern machinery to be eligible for empanelment.
The government would not provide funds for this, but rice millers will be encouraged to seek loans from MSMEs.
Recently, the state government also announced that will provide Rs 60 lakh to farmer producer organisations (FPOs) across Uttar Pradesh to store and deliver quality seeds in an effort to enhance agriculture and raise farmers' income. In addition, at 100 locations, a storage facility with a capacity of 500 metric tonnes will be created.
