Thoughts for the booming rice industry

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,
I say forget about talking in regards to rice production. We have fought off inclement weather, paddy bugs and even a few financial matters. We have broken all the records. My idea is for us to work on utilising all of our excess rice.
After all, if we produce more then we should use more. Rice has immense benefits, irrespective of what form it is used in. We need to experiment.
Rice is a typical example of a staple food. Today, rice fulfils the dietary needs of millions of people around the globe. More than 40,000 variations of rice are cultivated and sold. Each one has its own unique benefits to offer.
As for our popular brown rice, it retains much of its nutritional value because it does not undergo a whole lot of processing, milling and polishing. Fibre contents in the bran are retained. The body feels naturally fuller and invigorated for a longer period of time after the intake.
Brown rice is as equally available as white rice. It falls short on the taste which is quite ordinary but it blends perfectly well with many common recipes. Many locals just will not make fried rice or cook-up without the white rice.
From all indications, the rice industry is set to exceed the 2013 target of 450,000 tonnes by approximately 80,000 tonnes. So we have to go the next step – do something and move towards more consumption.
I have heard talks about utilising our vegetables and fruits in other forms too, say like we must preserve them or turn them into drinks, juices and syrups.
Yours truly,
Small rice farmer, Name withheld by request

Related posts