ABOUT SRI BALAJI RICE MILL
Our story.
A commitment
in every grain.
The story of Sri Balaji Rice Mill connects a family’s roots in the rice industry with more than four decades of work in Ballari. It is a story of people, practical experience and investment in better ways to process rice.
OUR STORY
Established in Ballari.
Built on family values.
Sri Balaji Rice Mill was established on 12 December 1980 in Ballari, Karnataka. Spread across five acres, the premises bring together the facilities used to store, process, check and pack our rice. The original mill used Binny equipment, bringing modern rice-milling capability to the district.
Our approach has developed over time, but its purpose remains consistent: to offer rice that cooks well, tastes good and is processed with attention to cleanliness. Behind that purpose is the everyday work of selecting paddy, managing the processing line and checking the rice that leaves our mill.
1980
Our Beginning
The foundation of the business was laid under the guidance of Late Sri Jugal Kishore Sarda, whose involvement in the rice industry began in the early 1960s. His experience in the districts around Ballari helped shape the family’s understanding of paddy, milling and customer needs. That practical knowledge became an important foundation for Sri Balaji Rice Mill.
His second son, Late J.K. Muralidhar Sarda, was the driving force behind establishing the present mill in 1980. Setting up the business required investment, sustained effort and the discipline to turn a plan into a working industrial operation. His contribution remains central to the mill’s history.
In 1984, J.K. Govindnarayan Sarda took over the reins of the rice milling business and has managed it since then. Today, he is supported by his sons, G. Prashanth Kumar Sarda (Prashanth Sarda) and G. Sagar Sarda (Sagar Sarda), who are actively involved in the mill’s operations and continuing development.
2008
Modernising for Greater Efficiency
In 1995, he took the initiative to install a modern dryer and boiler. In 2001, the milling section was modernised with Miltech whiteners and polishers. These investments were followed by a larger upgrade in 2008: the installation of a fully automated Buhler plant, rated at 7–8 tonnes per hour, together with Sortex equipment and a 40-tonne SKF stainless-steel double dryer.
2015
Enhancing Quality with Sortex
The addition of the Buhler Sortex S6 colour sorter in 2015 was another milestone. Designed for rice and imported from London, the system strengthened the sorting stage by helping identify discoloured grains and unwanted material. It works alongside the mill’s cleaning, destoning, grading, whitening and polishing equipment; it is one part of a wider quality-control approach.
Modernisation with a purpose
The practical aim of modernisation is to support the quality of the finished rice. Along with machinery, the mill relies on defined processing parameters and checks at different stages. Cooking samples from processed batches helps us assess the quality that matters at the dining table, as well as what can be seen in the uncooked grain.
Quality & environmental management
In 2011, Sri Balaji Rice Mill received ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. These are historical milestones in the business’s work on quality management and environmental management. Current certificate validity and scope should be checked against the applicable certificates.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND OUR STORY
Continuity across generations
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Late Sri Jugal Kishore Sarda
Family legacy · Grandfather
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Late J.K. Muralidhar Sarda
Instrumental in establishing the mill
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J.K. Govindnarayan Sarda
Managing Partner
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Prashanth Sarda
G. Prashanth Kumar Sarda
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G. Sagar Sarda
Continuing the family legacy
Mr. J.K. Govindnarayan Sarda, the youngest son of Late Sri Jugal Kishore Sarda, joined the mill in 1984 after completing his B.Com. Working alongside his father, he became involved in the different activities of the business. As Managing Partner, he has guided successive improvements to the mill’s facilities and operations.
G. Prashanth Kumar Sarda, his eldest son, completed his MBA in 2007 and subsequently joined the family in the activities of the rice mill. G. Sagar Sarda, his younger son, also completed his MBA and became actively involved in the business. Their participation continues the family’s involvement in the mill’s operations and development.
OUR VISION & COMMITMENT
Our promise begins with care.
Good rice, carefully prepared.
Our vision is to provide customers with rice valued for its cooking performance, taste and cleanliness, produced with attention to hygienic conditions. We pursue that vision through careful selection, consistent processing and checks that connect the work inside the factory with the experience in the kitchen.
Quality also depends on the environment in which people work. The mill’s existing practices include trees within the premises, provision for rainwater harvesting, and measures intended to support employee safety. These remain practical responsibilities within the daily running of the business.
Careful grain selection
Quality begins with the paddy we accept.
Modern processing
Experience strengthened by modern machinery.
Cooking quality checks
Processed batch samples checked before packing.
CLOSER TO OUR CUSTOMERS
Our factory outlets
On 23 May 2012, the Ballari factory outlet opened to give local customers a way to buy directly from the mill. It brought the business into closer contact with the people cooking its rice and provided a direct channel for their requirements and feedback.
A second factory outlet opened in Shanthinagar, Bengaluru, on 20 August 2022. It was established to serve retail and wholesale requirements in the city. Together, the outlets extend the mill’s relationship with customers beyond the factory and distribution network.
CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY
Discover the care behind our rice.
Explore our process to see how quality, care and modern technology come together from field to mill.
