Funds Allocated: Kuttanad Rice Park Project to Restart

Quick Summary

• The Kerala government has sanctioned ₹9 crore to resume construction of the Integrated Rice Technology Park (Kuttanad Rice Park) at mulakuzha, near Chengannur, Alappuzha.
• The project covers a 6,582-sq-ft facility on 5.18 acres of land under the Kerala Rice Ltd., aimed at producing Kuttanad-brand rice and value-added products.
• Officials have applied for an additional ₹40 crore under the Kuttanad package to complete the projectS first phase by the end of this financial year.
• Due to a funding shortage, less then 50% of construction was completed over two years; work will restart soon with machinery orders already placed.
• Total project cost: ₹53.34 crore; once operational, it will process 80 tonnes of paddy daily (24,000 tonnes annually).
• Storage facilities include flat-bottom silos with a combined capacity of 5,000 tonnes and hopper-bottom silos with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes.
• Paddy from Alappuzha and neighboring districts such as Kottayam and Kollam will be processed here.
• Benefits include direct procurement from farmers without using private mills; products like rice flour and canned food are planned alongside marketing campaigns for international exports.
• Technical support provided by Central Food Technological Research Institute and Defense Food Research Laboratory.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The sanctioning of funds for completing the stalled Kuttanad Rice Park represents important progress in supporting kerala’s local agricultural economy-especially paddy cultivation in southern districts like Alappuzha and Kottayam. By facilitating direct procurement from farmers while bypassing private intermediaries, this initiative could enhance farmer incomes while reducing dependency on middlemen.

Furthermore, integrating modern storage infrastructure such as silos signifies improved post-harvest management capability which could minimize spoilage-a persistent issue plaguing Indian agriculture.

However, heavy reliance on additional funding indicates potential administrative or financial challenges in timely execution that could delay benefits to stakeholders if not managed efficiently.If successfully executed within its revised timeline alongside international marketing plans for “Kuttanad brand” products, this park may serve as a model for agri-tech-driven progress in other regions.

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Read more: Published – July 31, 2025