Production Performance Evaluation of a Rice Parboiling and Milling Facility in Ebonyi State

This study evaluates the production performance of a rice parboiling and milling facility in Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria, assessing efficiency, output quality, and capacity utilisation. Ebonyi State is one of Nigeria's most important rice-producing states, and improving the performance of rice processing facilities in the state is directly linked to improving farmers' income and the competitiveness of local rice in Nigerian markets. This research employs a performance measurement framework incorporating capacity utilisation rate, milling recovery percentage, whiteness index, and broken grain percentage as key indicators. Data were collected through direct measurement during production runs, analysis of production records spanning eight months, and structured interviews with the facility manager and machine operators. Results reveal a milling recovery rate of sixty-six-point-four percent, below the international benchmark of sixty-eight to seventy percent for modern parboiling-milling systems, attributed primarily to suboptimal parboiling moisture levels entering the milling stage. The broken grain percentage of fourteen-point-seven percent also exceeds acceptable commercial thresholds, traced to excessive rubber roll pressure and worn whitener stones. Recommendations include installing a digital moisture meter for parboiling process control, establishing scheduled rubber roll replacement intervals, and providing operator training on mill setting optimisation. Keywords: rice parboiling, milling performance, capacity utilisation, Ebonyi State, milling recovery