Plant and Machinery for Fortified Rice Kernels Manufacturing and Blending

Rice fortification is an emerging process to address micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron, folic acid, and vitamin B 12 , in India. This chapter outlines the various plant and machinery involved in the production of FRK and its process flowchart along with regrinding broken rice into fine flour, blending it with a vitamin-mineral premix, extrusion into rice-shaped kernels, drying, polishing, and blending with milled rice in a precise 1:100 ratio. The micropulverizer, mixers, twin-screw extruders, multilayer dryers, and blenders are the major machinery involved in manufacturing fortified rice. In addition, layout design, hygiene flow, and regulatory compliance with BIS and FSSAI standards are essential to ensure quality and safety. This chapter also discusses the different ways of automation using PLC, SCADA, and IoT to enable real-time monitoring, data logging, and traceability. The technical challenges faced by producers, specifically blending homogeneity, nutrient degradation, and equipment reliability, are delineated along with their solutions through process optimization and by following guidelines of BIS criteria for machinery. Future innovations may include inline nutrient sensors and blockchain-based digital traceability. These developments can help decentralize and scale FRK production with better precision and transparency. In conclusion, the combination of machinery with digital intelligence can improve the production capacity and quality of fortified rice and help to address micronutrient deficiencies.