Rice bran

18.03.2024

Rice bran

Why in the  news?

  Recently, the ban on export of de-oiled rice bran was extended again by the Government of India for four months.

Important points:

• According to the official notification of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the central government has extended the ban on export of deoiled rice bran by four months
• The government initially imposed a four-month ban on exports of commodity derivatives in July 2023, which was later extended to March 2024.
• The main objective of this ban is to stabilize domestic feed prices and curb the rise in milk prices.
• Edible oil industry body Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) has requested the government to lift the ban imposed on export of commodity derivatives.

About Rice Bran:

• It is one of the main byproducts in the process of rice milling.
• This is the outer brown layer of brown rice, which is removed during the milling process.
• Its bran fraction contains 14-18% oil.
• Rice bran oil is popular as a "healthy oil" in Japan, Asia, and especially India.
• Its oil is light yellow, odorless, sweet and nutty in taste.
• This oil is considered a good source of unsaturated fats, vitamin E and other important nutrients.
• The nutrient composition of rice bran depends on the variety of rice and the efficiency of the milling system.
• Deoiled rice bran extracted from rice bran is widely used as a nutritional product for feeding cattle and other animals.

Its beneficial properties:

• It has anti-diabetic, lipid-lowering, hypotensive, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Its consumption improves bowel function.
• It contains substances that can reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body.
• It may also reduce calcium absorption, which may help prevent the formation of certain types of kidney stones.

                                       Source:The Print