ICC to prepare vision document on rice for Odisha

Document will suggest ways to improve farmers' remuneration, reduce wastage at mills and boost exports

Industry body Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) will prepare a vision document on rice for Odisha, as it has done for the state of West Bengal.

“The vision document will contain all challenges the state’s farmers, rice mills and exporters are facing nowadays and the solutions for these challenges. It may also provide actual solutions that are achievable,” said Madhuparna Bhowmick, additional director of ICC at the India Rice Conclave 2016 here.

The document will suggest means for improving the remuneration of farmers for their produce, reduction of wastage at the mills and enhancement of exports.

"We are taking technical inputs from the stakeholders. Last year we had prepared a vision document for West Bengal. Now we are planning similar document for Odisha. Preparation of  report for Odisha has already started and will be ready within two months. Thereafter, we will submit the document to the Odisha government", she added.

After that ICC will prepare a vision document for Andhra Pradesh next year. 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.

“Most of the rice processing in Odisha are in MSME sector. More than 95 rice mills are located in Bargarh district. The state government is now giving more emphasis on establishing rice mill clusters and mega food processing parks. India stands top in Basmati rice export. But for non-basmati rice to compete with countries like Thailand, USA, Philippines, Vietnam and UK, our R&D (research and development) institutes like CRRI (Central Rice Research Institute ), Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute) should take innovative steps”,  said Yogendra Behera, Odisha MSME minister at the event.

It may be noted that Odisha, West Bengal  and Andhra Pradesh are well-positioned to export rice to neighbouring countires like Nepal, Bhutan and other ASEAN nations. As per USDA, India is the second largest rice producing country in the world after China. Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) has estimated India’s rice production at 105 million metric tonnes, with an export quantum of 6.7 million metric tonnes.

Tapan Kumar Adhya, professor of bio-tech department of KIIT University, Samarendra Mohanty, head of social science division of IRRI, Philippines, Surendranath Pasupalak, vice chancellor, OUAT and D D Patra, vice chancellor of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal also spoke on the occasion.