Small farmers often lose value at diesel-run mills, fetching just 275–300 kg of rice from 500 kg of paddy. That changes with SEMA Alto’s solar-powered rice mills, which are compact, modular, and farmer-first increasing recovery to 320–350 kg per 500 kg, translating to double income from ₹45–50/kg raw paddy to ₹80–100/kg polished rice.

Powered by just 3.7 to 5 kW and featuring gravity-driven design, these mills are efficient and hygienic. The waterfall layout reduces energy needs, while stages like de-stoning, dual-pass shelling, polishing, and grading ensure high-quality outputs ready for the retail market.

But hardware alone isn’t enough. The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)—via its Powering Livelihoods programme has enabled awareness campaigns, village demos led by early adopters, and tailored financing. Mechanisms like First Loss Default Guarantees and inclusion in the PM-FME scheme paved the way for affordable loans, enabling wider, trust-driven adoption.

With over 150 units already deployed across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, this model is reshaping rice milling delivering higher earnings, reduced waste, and livelihood independence. It lays the groundwork for scaling clean, context-smart solutions across rural India.