The Hindu Business Line : Health factors seen driving demand for rice bran oil

IN the last five years, production of rice bran oil has trebled. Currently, rice bran oil production in the country is six lakh tonnes (lt) - 4.8 lt of it edible - but the solvent extraction industry sees a potential for its production to touch at least 12 lakh tonnes.

"The problem with our farmers is that they do not see the scope of value-addition from paddy. Actually, rice should only be seen as one of the products that can be derived from paddy," says Mr A.R. Sharma, President, Solvent Extractors Association of India. "The concept that paddy can be used for things such as oil is picking up now."

At least 15 per cent oil can be derived from rice bran and given the production of nearly 75 lakh tonnes of rice, at least 12 lakh tonnes of oil can be produced, he says.

Rice bran oil, produced from the outer brown layer of rice, has been popular in Japan for the past four decades and in the process of producing the oil, there are a few by-products that can be used by the pharmaceutical and neutraceutical industries.

"Rice bran oil is nutritionally far superior to other oils. For example, the new variant of Saffola Gold from Marico comprises 70 per cent rice bran oil. Godrej's Sundrop Heart variant has 80 per cent rice bran oil," says Mr Sharma. He spoke to Business Line recently in Mumbai during a global edible oil conference. Mr Sharma himself has floated a rice bran oil brand "Ricella" in the market.

Currently, there are 25 solvent units that are involved in producing rice bran oil. "Most of the units are in the North and West Bengal besides a few in Andhra Pradesh," he says.

There is one aspect to rice bran oil that can really be remunerative to growers, according to Mr Sharma. The oil contains oryznol, which increases good cholesterol (HDL) and reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides.

"Oryznol is a good substitute for statin and thus, is of good use to the neutraceutical sector. In the global market, oryznol sells up to $6,000 a kg. Also, for the pharmaceutical industry, the oil provides lauric acids," he says. Besides, by-products during refining of crude rice bran oil are used by the soap industry.

"Soyabean and rice bran oils have lesathin. But lesathin from rice bran is a better oxidant. Rice lesathin fetches Rs 100 a kg and in order to realise better price, we need to create a market for it," Mr Sharma says, adding that the oil also contains squalene, which improves skin tone and delays wrinkle formation.

"Then there is tocopherol in the oil which contains vitamin E and helps in maintaining the nervous system," he says.

However, this year rice production is seen stagnant during kharif at around 75 million tonnes. "Growers are shifting from foodgrains. Yields have become stagnant and this year, rains in Punjab will have a negative effect," he says.

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