Assam lines up 32 mini mills to process bumper rice yield

GUWAHATI: With Assam expecting a bumper production of rice this year, the state government will soon set up around 32 mini rice mills for processing the harvest. Assam's rice production is expected to touch 60 lakh tonnes, almost 8 lakh tonnes more than the last year's.

The rice mills will come up in different areas with the state government subverting the cost up to 50 per cent. Assam Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka said in fiscal year 2012-13 , the state produced over 52 lakh tonnes of rice and around 7 lakh tonnes were surplus.

"This year, we are expecting 60 lakh tonnes of rice." Despite a drought-like situation earlier in the season, the situation improved later on. "The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Assam Agricultural Marketing Board have readied 60 centres for procurement of rice," Deka said.

The minister said that in the absence of milling facility, rice from Assam is processed in Siliguri and Coach Bihar in West Bengal, and in Bangladesh and is sold back in Assam.

The cost of setting up a mini mill will be around Rs 16 lakh and the government will provide half of it as subsidy. Assam is focusing on the export variety of rice like Kumol (soft) and red rice.