West Bengal rice sector pushes for faster clearances and stronger infrastructure
Rice industry leaders in India's largest rice-producing state are asking the new government to speed up approvals, improve logistics and back exports of premium varieties.
West Bengal’s rice industry is pressing the state’s new BJP government for faster approvals, stronger infrastructure and more active export support. Sector representatives say weak rural roads, poor drainage and long delays in electricity connections still disrupt mill operations and discourage investment. Those bottlenecks are especially costly for new rice mills, where power connections can take months and materially raise project costs.
Ricevilla Foods chief executive Suraj Agarwal said better logistics and storage capacity are becoming more important as India’s rice economy expands. He noted that annual national rice production has crossed 1,500 lakh tonnes and government rice stocks have exceeded 590 lakh tonnes. In that environment, mill and warehouse operators need both physical infrastructure and a more predictable administrative system if investments are to remain viable.
A core demand from the industry is a single-window clearance system for licences and approvals, aimed at cutting paperwork and reducing project delays. Agarwal also said the sector wants a dedicated Rice Industry Development Board to coordinate farmers, millers, exporters and government agencies. The push has gained momentum after India’s rice exports rose nearly 19% in 2025 to around 215 lakh tonnes following the easing of export restrictions.
Exporters see particular opportunity in West Bengal’s premium GI-tagged rice varieties, including Gobindo Bhog and Tulai Panji. The industry argues that stronger rail and port connectivity in eastern India, combined with government-backed branding and promotion, could lift exports significantly. India already accounts for roughly 40% of global rice trade and ships more than 200 lakh tonnes into a world market estimated at about 550 lakh tonnes a year.
At the same time, mill economics inside the state remain under pressure. West Bengal Rice Mills Owners Association chairman Sushil K Choudhury said the sector is in poor shape because of large-scale free rice distribution under central and state welfare schemes. He said there are around 1,500 rice mills in the state, with roughly 550 engaged in government procurement and the rest focused on private marketing and exports, but many units have already shut due to losses.
Although West Bengal contributes nearly 150 lakh tonnes to India’s rice output, only a limited share currently reaches export channels directly. That is why the sector is pushing for focused promotion and faster project clearances, hoping to capture more value in India’s rice export industry, which it estimates at more than Rs 90,000 crore. For the industry, the issue is no longer only production growth. It is whether infrastructure and regulation can keep pace with rising stocks, milling capacity and external demand.