Sonwane Rice Mills

Our mill is out in Mul Village, right on Bhandara Road. Most people know us because we are near the Tirupati Urban Co-Op Bank, which is a common landmark in this part of the district. It is a quiet area most of the year, but things really pick up during the harvest seasons. That is when the farmers start bringing in their loads and the machinery starts running full tilt. You can hear the hum of the mill from down the road. We have a small crew of workers who live nearby and they know exactly how to handle the equipment. It is physical work, hauling the heavy bags and keeping an eye on the cleaning and milling process. The floor is usually covered in a thin layer of rice dust, but we sweep up as often as we can. We have been here for a long time and the building shows its age a bit, but everything works the way it should. People from the village come by to talk or check on their orders while they are out doing other errands. We do not have a fancy showroom or a website. Most of our business is just done face to face over a cup of tea. It is a steady way to make a living and it keeps us connected to the land and the local community here in Mul. We just take it one day at a time and keep the mill running.