Malkangiri, August 8: What began as a small farming initiative has now turned into a promising rural enterprise for 10 tribal women in one of Malkangiri’s remote villages. By cultivating and processing black rice, members of the Maa Dharitri Self-Help Group in Telerai village under Kalimela block are carving out a new identity for themselves as women entrepreneurs.

For the past three years, the women have been cultivating black rice on their own farmland and procuring paddy from other farmers in the village. Instead of selling the harvested paddy as a raw agricultural product, they process it, mill it and market the rice in attractive packaging.

The initiative has given a new commercial value to a traditional crop. The black rice is currently being sold at around ₹100 per kilogram, with demand gradually increasing in local markets. The group has also ventured into the cultivation of traditional rice varieties such as Kalabati, Balamali and Kalajira.

Black rice cultivation has given us recognition. Now we are also able to help at home financially. This black rice has several health benefits. So if anyone wants the black rice, please contact us. That will definitely help away to grow our business as well as future, says a woman working in the group.

With support from the Malkangiri district administration and the Agriculture Department, the women have been able to strengthen their small enterprise. The department provided improved seeds and a milling machine, enabling the group to process paddy locally instead of depending entirely on outside facilities.

The group initially cultivated black rice across three acres and produced around one quintal of rice, which was subsequently marketed in different places. What started as an experiment has since grown into a source of income and economic independence for the women.

Recently, Malkangiri Collector Prathamesh Aravind visited Telerai village and appreciated the women's initiative. He highlighted the nutritional value and medicinal properties associated with black rice and said its demand could rise further in the coming years.

The district administration has also assured the women of further support through skill training, improved market linkages and dedicated sales outlets to help expand their enterprise.

“We visited the site where the women are cultivating black rice, and they are doing commendable work. Black rice has several nutritional and medicinal benefits and can be beneficial for people with diabetes and anemia. The women have requested training in packaging and business management so that they can expand their enterprise. They have also sought a roadside outlet where they can sell their products directly to customers. We will certainly make every effort to fulfil their demands,” said the DM Prathamesh Aravind.

For these women, farming is no longer limited to producing food for their families. They are turning their fields into a business opportunity, creating a market for locally grown rice and building a sustainable source of income.

The success of the Maa Dharitri SHG is emerging as a notable example of how value-added agriculture can create economic opportunities for tribal women. From the remote corners of Malkangiri, these 10 women are showing how a traditional crop can become the foundation of a modern rural enterprise.