Allesh Rice Mill

Up in Makkudi, our rice mill sits as a plain building that most people might drive past without a second thought. Inside, it’s a different story with the mechanical parts turning and the smell of toasted grain filling up the space. It’s just a small operation, really. We don't have those massive automated systems you see in the big cities, so a lot of the work is still done by hand or with older equipment that needs a bit of looking after. You’ll usually find a few of us standing around the hoppers, making sure the flow doesn't get clogged up. The floor is made of rough concrete and it’s usually covered in a thin dusting of white flour. We’ve got a small yard out front where the tractors pull in to drop off the harvest. Sometimes it gets a bit crowded and we have to help guide the drivers so they don't get stuck in the mud when it rains. Makkudi is a quiet place, but we keep things moving here from early morning until the sun starts to set. There’s no big sign or flashing lights, just the work getting done day after day. We’ve got a bench outside where we take our breaks, usually with a glass of tea while we watch the birds pick at the stray grains on the ground. It’s a steady kind of life, and the mill is the center of it for us. We just keep going until the bags are full.