Promoting Self-help Group-led Entrepreneurship through Rice Value AdditionBetter Rice. Better Lives.
Illustration of Odisha women-led self-help groups working with rice products

Government of Odisha × IRRI

Better Rice. Better Lives.

A Project funded by the Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Empowerment and the Department of Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha​

Explore the rice library →See project results
Better Rice. Better Lives.Research · production · processing · enterprise · market
76.6%women participants
1384acres under production
13,798quntals of produced rice
60SHG members trained

01 · The vision

One connected value chain.
More value stays with communities.

Connected rice value chain from farmer to market

RVA is designed as a complete system—not a collection of disconnected activities.

01Discover distinctive rice
02Produce through women-led clusters
03Process with quality rigor
04Create market-ready foods
05Secure buyers and repeat demand

02 · Rice intelligence

Odisha rice,
profiled for decisions.

Search priority records by nutrition profile, heritage identity or market proposition. This mock-up features 12 selected records from the FY 2025–26 portfolio.

03 · Product portfolio

From distinctive grain
to everyday foods.

The portfolio turns grain, broken rice and bran into convenient products—expanding demand while using more of every harvest.

Explore the value added-products →

04 · Women-led enterprise

Capability that stays
in the community.

SHG members build hands-on capability in processing, quality, packaging, costing, branding and buyer engagement—so value addition becomes a locally owned business system.

60SHG members completed intensive five-day programmes
See the capability pathway →
Women SHG capability for rice processing and enterprise

05 · Proof in motion

Field evidence. Factory readiness.
Market traction.

Map of six project districts in Odisha
Six districtsBalangir · Ganjam · Kalahandi · Khordha · Koraput · Puri
Production7,880.47 Qtl

Kalajeera confirmed in Koraput’s women-led production cluster.

View evidence ↗
Market linkage₹19.80 lakh

Recorded realization from 180 quintals of Kalajeera sold to a B2B buyer.

See market stories ↗
Bhubaneswar multi-line rice and millet processing facility
Platform for scaleBhubaneswar processing facility

Paddy · millet · flour · bakery lines

06 · Evidence & resources

Built for transparency.
Ready for collaboration.

A future resource centre for variety profiles, technical protocols, product briefs, business cases, reports and communication materials.

01Annual report 2025–26Project report · PDF↗02Rice variety dossiersComing into the resource library↗03Product prototype briefsComing into the resource library↗04Factory & business planComing into the resource library↗

Connected knowledge

Part of the CdQN digital ecosystem.

This project microsite is designed to be linked from the CdQN website, with shared navigation and a direct return path once the official parent-site URL is confirmed.

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