Paddy (moonji) becomes rice at the mill, and the whole economics turn on milling recovery — roughly 62–68% for basmati and up to 70–73% for IRRI-6, with the rest as bran and husk. Pakistan produced about 9.5 million tonnes of rice in 2024-25 and exported in the region of $3.2 billion worth in FY2024-25 (basmati was about 13% of export volume).
Why does recovery decide the margin?
A mill buys paddy by weight but sells milled rice — so a one or two point swing in recovery moves the whole P&L. Moisture (nami) at intake is central: damp paddy weighs more, mills worse, and stores poorly, which is why nami is deducted at the gate.
Where the mandi meets the mill
Most paddy reaches the mill through a galla mandi via an adhati, with adhat, bardana and tulai applied before the mill's own intake. Tracking landed cost per lot — paddy price plus all deductions and transport — is what tells a miller their true break-even.
How software helps a rice mill
Pakka Khata for Rice Mills records paddy intake with moisture, computes landed cost, and tracks by-products (bran, husk) so cost-per-tonne of milled rice is always known.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal milling recovery for basmati?
Roughly 62–68% head rice for basmati and 70–73% for IRRI-6, varying with paddy quality, moisture and mill calibration.
How big is Pakistan's rice export?
Around $3.2 billion in FY2024-25 on ~5.2–5.5 million tonnes shipped, with basmati a premium but minority share (~13%) of volume.
