The compact, eco-friendly machine produces 50 kg of puffed rice per hour, taking out the drudgery from the process. The innovation has been incubated by RuTAG at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, empowering rural communities.
Puffed rice or muri is a popular high-carbohydrate, affordable food widely consumed in India and a source of income across rural communities. However, it is a labour-intensive and time-consuming process that compromises productivity. This is set to change thanks to an innovative Puffed Rice (Muri) Making Machine, which is capable of puffing rice in just 18-20 seconds, producing 40-50 kg per hour.
The innovation comes from the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG) Cell at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
It was guided by Prof. Rintu Banerjee and Dr. Peeyush Soni, and promises to enhance productivity and support sustainable development across rural India.
The technological initiative integrates the values of product design, blockchain and future mobility solutions. It addresses key UN Sustainable Development Goals of zero hunger and no poverty, besides industry, innovation, and infrastructure.
It seeks to empower rural communities through livelihood enhancement, skill development, agricultural technology, community engagement and food security.
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In the first stage, the advanced motor-driven system seamlessly stirs conditioned parboiled rice in a salt-filled kadhai (wok). It is then puffed up in small batches in heated sand in a revolving handi (cauldron).
The puffed rice automatically separates from the hot sand via a specially designed sieve, which returns the sand to the handi for reuse. The sieve also prevents browning due to prolonged heat exposure. The entire process utilises heat efficiently and ensures a clean workspace, making it suitable for rural settings.
A one HP motor powers the machine for both rotating the vessel and stirring the rice during preheating. The heating sections are insulated with bricks and clay mixed with cow dung, enhancing thermal efficiency and making the machine nearly smokeless.
The eco-friendly Puffed Rice (Muri) Making Machine is also extremely fuel-efficient as just 30 kg of biomass fuel is enough to make 100 kg of puffed rice. It is almost completely smokeless and any smoke can be directed away through a chimney.
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Puffed rice is made by expanding rice grains several times their original size. Traditionally, parboiled rice is soaked overnight in salty water. It is then dried, roasted and puffed in hot sand.
However, this results in long working hours, low productivity and hard physical labour. It adversely impacts health and the environment alike due to its reliance on agricultural waste or wood for fuel.
The compact puffed rice-making machine developed by RuTAG is simple to operate and requires no technical knowledge.
Specially prepared parboiled rice, from suitable paddy varieties, is conditioned by mixing with a salt solution and allowing 6–8 hours for absorption. The rice is preheated over a low flame for 40–50 minutes in a wok.
In the puffing stage, the conditioned, preheated rice is transferred to a rotating aluminum vessel heated in a furnace. This machine is equipped with both biomass and LPG based fuel options and is insulated with a one mm iron sheet.
This vessel contains hot sand, where rice puffs almost instantaneously. It incorporates a sand-sieving mechanism for rapid sand separation during the process. In contrast to the traditional machine which produces only four kg puffed rice in an hour, this new model produces over 40 kgs in an hour.
The Puffed Rice (Muri) Making Machine costs between Rs 1-1.75 lakh (excluding GST). About 10-15 units can be manufactured within three months.
It has the potential to empower NGOs, self-help groups, women’s welfare associations and village schools. It is an example of community-led agricultural innovation, ensuring scalable, sustainable and inclusive growth for rural sectors.
RuTAG is an initiative of the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the government of India that started in 2004. It was conceptualised as a mechanism to provide higher levels of science and technology interventions and support for rural areas. Under this initiative the interventions are designed to be primarily demand-driven, focussing on bridging technology gaps at the grassroots level, upgrading technology and providing training and demonstrations through innovative projects.
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The lead image on top depicts women working with a contraption to make puffed rice. The eco-friendly Puffed Rice (Muri) Making Machine simplifies this process for rural communities.
(Screengrab from a YouTube video of Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India)
