The story
Bardhaman's Damodar canal irrigation made it West Bengal's leading paddy district, often called the state's rice bowl. Large rice mills grew around the paddy markets, with by-product units making rice bran oil and cattle feed. The district's Gobindobhog rice and its sweets, sitabhog and mihidana, carry GI tags.
In numbers
The Burdwan rice mill cluster had 133 functional units, a turnover of Rs. 800 crore and employment of 18,000.
Brief Industrial Profile of Burdwan District, MSME-DI Kolkata, Ministry of MSME · 2012
GI tag
- Gobindobhog RiceApplication no. Application No. 531Registration details of Geographical Indications (state-wise register), IP India
- Bardhaman SitabhogApplication no. Application No. 525Registration details of Geographical Indications (state-wise register), IP India
- Bardhaman MihidanaApplication no. Application No. 526Registration details of Geographical Indications (state-wise register), IP India
Ways in for a newcomer
- Rice bran oil and husk-based power or briquettes
- Branded packing of Gobindobhog rice for metro markets
- Murmura (puffed rice) and poha units
- Paddy drying and storage services
Problems the cluster faces
- Lack of testing facilities (noted in the district profile)
- Husk disposal and pollution
- Swings in government procurement and export rules
Businesses to start here
Rice Mill (Mini) →Murmura (Puffed Rice) Unit →Rice Flakes (Poha) Making →Rice Husk Particle Board →Curry Powder and Rice Powder Unit →