There was a day like this at a rice mill a few decades ago. In the early morning, the farmers arrived with bullock carts loaded with paddy bags from distant villages. It used to be an exciting trip for them, as they eagerly awaited the transformation of their paddy into polished white rice at the mill. In India, rice is one of the most important grains. It is a staple food in eastern and southern parts of the country. Rice de-husking is a process of removing the husk and bran from the paddy rice and producing white rice grains that are sufficiently milled. But in earlier days the farmers used to de-husk the rice by pounding the rice in mortar and pestle manually.

The advent of mills in brought relief, particularly for the women in families. Their tedious task of de-husking paddy was made much easier by the mills. It is true, however, that the landscape has changed over time. The local paddy cultivation land has shrunk due to the expansion of horticultural and other activities. The resulting shortage of paddy has made it difficult for small and old mills to function at full capacity, as seen with the Sri Veerabadreswara rice mill in Soraba Taluk, Karnataka, which has been operating for over sixty years.

The owner of this rice mill reported a significant 40 percent decline in their operations. Farmers are now cultivating different crops, leading to the gradual disappearance of traditional rice cultivation in the area. In this evolving landscape, small mills that once relied on paddy farmers are facing challenges. Additionally, local rice varieties such as Padmarekha, Abilasha, Jeddu, Parmalya, Gandasali, and Nereguli are vanishing due to the adoption of new, high-yielding varieties, the owner added.

While these mills remain an integral part of local paddy cultivation, their current status reflects the broader shifts happening in the agricultural scene. The shift towards new crops and the conversion of cultivation lands highlights the challenges faced by these once-thriving mills.

Prashanth Ramappa is a dedicated researcher with a Master’s degree in Fisheries Resource and Management. The conservation of coastal ecosystems and the preservation of western Ghats is his passion, as well as the promotion of sustainable livelihoods.