LUCKNOW: In the first step, the Uttar Pradesh government will 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 development, and money growth.

Private rice mills would be modernised, according to Sorabh Babu, Commissioner of Food and Civil Supplies, and the government will make some mandatory 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 about 757 large 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 regulations and standards since smaller scale mills are equipped with antiquated machines (Food Corporation of India). The government hopes to produce high-quality rice through upgrading machinery, increasing capacity, and employing current technology.

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 use modern machinery to be considered for empanelment.  The government would not provide funds for this, but rice millers will be encouraged to seek loans from MSMEs.

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