The purpose of a rice mill is to process raw paddy rice harvested from fields into polished rice ready for consumption. This involves several stages of processing to remove the outer husk, bran layers, and impurities from the rice grains. The primary objectives of a rice mill include:

1. Dehusking: Removing the outer husk from the paddy rice to produce brown rice. This step is crucial as the husk is inedible and must be removed before consumption.

2. Whitening: Further refining the brown rice to remove the bran layers, resulting in polished white rice. This process enhances the appearance, texture, and taste of the rice.

3. Grading and Sorting: Sorting rice grains based on size, shape, and quality criteria to separate broken grains, whole grains, and other defects. This ensures consistency and uniformity in the final product.

4. Cleaning: Removing impurities such as stones, straw, dust, and other debris from the rice grains to improve quality and safety.

5. Polishing: Optional but common step to give the rice a shiny appearance and improve its marketability. This process involves friction to remove the outer layer of the rice grain.

6. Quality Control: Monitoring and maintaining quality standards throughout the processing stages to ensure the final product meets consumer expectations in terms of taste, texture, appearance, and hygiene.

7. Packaging and Distribution: Packaging the polished rice into suitable containers for distribution to consumers, wholesalers, retailers, or other markets.

Overall, the purpose of a rice mill is to transform raw paddy rice into high-quality polished rice that is safe, nutritious, and desirable for consumption. This process adds value to the raw agricultural product and plays a crucial role in the global food supply chain, providing a staple food source for millions of people worldwide.