Times of India
25 January 2010
By Manu Aiyappa
Bangalore, India

After sugar–free pastries and jamoons, here is more sweet news for diabetics: Karnataka may soon start production of ‘sugar–free’ rice as part of its plans to boost paddy processing and rice production.

The government, in association with the Union food processing ministry, proposes to establish a Rice Technology Park (RTP), a first under public–private–partnership mode. The project will come up on 300–acre land near Karatagi in Gangavati taluk of Koppal district at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore.

“At the rice tech park, we can take up major experiments, including processing rice with lower Glycemic Index number. Such rice cannot be grown. The demand for such rice will surge over the next two decades, with diabetes cases on the rise,” said an agro–scientist at University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.

White Wonder

• Sugar–free white rice is highly nutritious, contains many vitamins, proteins
• Derived from regular paddy by postharvest processing technology, by obtaining rice rich in nutrients and low in GI
• GI value tells how rapidly a particular carbohydrate turns

A team of scientists headed by UAS vice–chancellor P G Chengappa, which toured the paddy–growing areas in North Karnataka, had recommended setting up of an RTP to enable faster conversion of new research findings into commercial products and a business centre. “At present, there is only one food technology institute in the country, in Mysore, and it is not able to cater to the needs of the state fully. The new rice park will fill the gap,” said sugar minister Shivaraj Tangadagi.

By–products of rice, such as husk and bran, have the potential to generate revenue. Husk, the outer shell of the paddy, can be used to extract furfural, generate power and produce pharmaceutical grade silica. Bran can be used to extract edible oil. “All these command a premium price in the market,” Chengappa said.