Chamber of Commerce to prepare vision document on Rice for Odisha

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) will prepare a vision document on rice for Odisha.

The additional director of ICC, Madhuparna Bhowmick said that the vision document will contain all the challenges and the solutions for these challenges faced by the state’s farmers, rice mills and exporters.

In her inaugural speech, Madhuparna stated that the report for Odisha is being prepared and will be complete within two months.

Odisha produces eight million tonnes of paddy per year, of which 4.5 million tonnes is processed. Three districts — Bargarh, Sambalpur and Kalahandi — account for 50 per cent of rice production. About 95 per cent of the processed paddy in Odisha is used for par-boiled rice and five per cent is used for raw rice.

Speaking on the occasion at the India Rice Conclave, Odisha MSME minister Yogendra Behera said that more than 95 rice mills are located in Bargarh district and most of the rice processing in Odisha is in MSME sector.  The state government is now giving more emphasis on establishing rice mill clusters and mega food processing parks.

Other dignitaries presents at the event were professor of Bio-tech department of KIIT University Dr. Tapan Kumar Adhya, Head of social science division of IRRI, Philippines Dr. Samarendra Mohanty, Vice Chancellor of OUAT Prof. Surendranath Pasupalak and Vice Chancellor of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya of West Bengal Dr D D Patra.