Gujarat Deploys AI Grain Analyzers to Grade Paddy, 341 Samples Rejected

In a bid to make paddy procurement faster and more transparent, Gujarat has started using artificial‑intelligence driven grain analysers at its Minimum Support Price (MSP) centres. The pilots, set up across ten sites in four districts, began when the Kharif Marketing Season 2025‑26 kicked off.

According to the Gujarat State Civil Supplies Corporation, the machines examined a total of 6,191 paddy samples. Roughly 54.6% (3,379 samples) earned the coveted Grade A, while 45.4% (2,812 samples) fell into the ‘Common’ category. The system also flagged 341 samples as unsuitable, rejecting them outright.

These analysers sit in procurement hubs in Ahmedabad, Anand, Mahisagar and Panchmahal districts. In all, 13,334 farmers registered to sell their grain through the ten centres. The data showed a stark contrast between locations – Dholka recorded the highest rejection rate at 24%, whereas Viramgam didn’t reject a single sample.

How does the AI do its job? The software scans each handful for foreign matter, discoloured or damaged grains, immature or shrunken kernels, and even checks moisture levels. It needs a steady power supply and just one operator per centre, a sharp reduction from the old system that required two people and a slew of scientific equipment.

Previously, a third‑party grading set‑up handled quality checks, meaning more hands, more time and, frankly, more room for inconsistencies. By letting AI take over the routine analysis, officials hope to cut down errors and speed up the whole procurement chain.

Gujarat already buys wheat, paddy, maize, jowar, bajra and ragi under the MSP scheme, following standards laid down by the Food Corporation of India for wheat and rice, and uniform central guidelines for the rest. For other commodities such as tur dal, gram, edible oil, sugar and double‑fortified salt, the state applies even stricter standards than those of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Samples of tur dal and gram are cross‑verified 100% at the corporation’s Food Research Laboratory and Quality Control wing.

The government says the blend of AI testing, tighter quality controls and rigorous sample verification is meant to guarantee that grains reaching public distribution schemes meet the prescribed norms. In plain language, it’s about restoring confidence – for farmers, for consumers and for the system itself.

While the pilot is still fresh, officials are optimistic that the technology will soon expand to more districts, making grain grading a smoother, more accountable process across the state.