Post News Network
Chandbali, May 6: A radius of about 10-km from Chandbali port may now wear a deserted look, but 142-years ago the area was abuzz with business activities. Way back in 1873, this was the main rice processing zone of coastal Orissa. Before the sun rose, sirens of large numbers of rice mills strewn around the area used to break the morn’s silence.
But the scenario now has changed totally as most of the rice mills currently are lying non-functional, neglected and dilapidated. Even the Chandbali port, once facilitating the rice trade, too has lost its old glory. The rice mills constituted a major chunk of the industrial activities here. In those days, the area housed such famous rice mills as Kamala Rice mill, Hanuman Rice Mill, Baitarani Rice Mill, Rabindra Rice Mill, Satyanarayan Rice Mill and Bhagabati Rice Mill. Only Hanuman Rice mill has managed to survive over the years.
The rice mills and rice trade were two major sources of livelihood for the local people. The area always appeared busy like a beehive with the Chandbali port being the main water route for the transportation of the processed rice to various parts of the country and even overseas— particularly to West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, Madras and Burma (now Mayanmar). Rice was also transported to various parts of the state.
In those days – 142 years back — over 5000 workers were engaged in these mills while over 2000 traders were into rice trade and its transportation. Recalling the past, local elderly persons, Gopinath Swain, said, “Rice mills were like rice bowls for many local people. Even people from far-off places like Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Tamil Nadu used to work here and eke out their living.”
Past records reveal that total rice exports to various states and country stood at Rs 39,155 in 1872-73, while its net returns were Rs 34,233. From this point of view, the rice mill business was in its peak during the British Raj.
Old timers here recall that the rice produced here were tasty and in high demand. The rice varieties that were in high demand included Sula, Patini, Basumati and Lilabati. Chandbali and its peripheral area, crisscrossed by rivers and rivulets, happened to be very fertile to yield huge amount of paddy. Farmers in the area and even from distant places came here with their paddy by boats to Chandbali.
Everything went on smoothly till a devastating drought (called Naanka Druvhikya) wreaked havoc to the agrarian economy, leaving the farming community in the lurch.
The demand for rice soared high and the British government wanted to cash in on the situation by setting up rice mills. Coast, coastal canal and rivers provided better transport facility and boosted the rice milling trade. “Many non-Oriya traders—people from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bombay, Madras and Kolkata – set up their rice mills in the area,” said Gopiram Agrawal, a young businessman of Chandbali area.
He said, “We Agrawala were rooted in Haryana. During the Great drought, our forefathers came here in search of livelihood and trade. Seeing the favourable condition here for rice trade, our forefathers sold their land in Haryana and set up a rice mill here with sale proceeds.”
However, development of roads and railways are among several factors that had impacted the rice mill business. Elaborating on the then socio-economic condition, economics lecturer Santanu Kumar Mohanty said that when road and railways were developed, rice mills began to suffer losses.
“By 1943-44, many rice mill owners had lost their hope and many sold their mills and left for other places forever,” Mohanty added. Some traders switched over to other business and as a result the rice mill economy collapsed, he observed. Now, remains of those rice mills speak of the glorious trade in the area. Though two more rice mill have been set up in the area, they have not provided large-scale employment opportunities. Locals demand that the government should set up an integrated rice mill complex to boost this business.