Liquor from millets! Odisha Govt plan to benefit tribal farmers!

In a progressive move set to bolster agricultural prospects for tribal communities, the Odisha Government unveiled a plan on Friday to promote the conversion of crops such as millets into alcohol. Excise and Industries departments are to discuss the feasibilities.

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Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan led a high-level meeting discussing the excise policy for 2025-26. Further discussions with the Industries department are anticipated in the near future.

Several companies have expressed interest in producing alcohol using food grains such as millets, barley, and bajra. Moreover, the State government is making strides to enhance the traditional Mahua liquor, aiming to develop refined blends with a variety of flavours.

“Odisha Government is planning how the tribal brothers and sisters will be able to sell Mahula (Mahua flowers) at a reasonable price. Apart from this, plans are also afoot on how breweries of higher standards than the existing traditional ones can be produced,” Excise Commissioner Narasingha Bhol said to mediapersons.

“This will help benefit the tribals and generate employment opportunities in Odisha as well. Similarly, setting up of liquor industries to produce millet-based (including finger millet, pearl millet etc.) breweries is on the anvil,” the Excise Commissioner expressed.

Revenue optimisation strategies

Odisha Excise Policy 2024-25 introduces a tiered licensing fee structure with 1.5% increase in existing C-Money for Outstill shops and differential fees based on production capacity for distilleries. Novel Additional Rounding-off Excise Duty (AROED) ensures MRP standardization to Rs 10 multiples through algorithmic price adjustments during permit issuance.

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Projections indicate these measures could boost state excise revenue by 18% compared to FY 2023-24, particularly through enhanced monitoring of ENA-based country liquor production which accounts for 42% of total alcohol sales.

Social responsibility mechanisms

The policy mandates a 150-meter buffer zone between liquor vends and educational or religious institutions, reducible to 75m in urban areas with the Excise Commissioner’s approval. New awareness programs include mandatory 'Responsible Consumption' signage in all ON shops and a 2% revenue allocation for de-addiction centers - a threefold increase from previous years. Nightlife regulations now prohibit alcohol service after midnight in non-hotel establishments during festivals.