The Hindu Business Line : Kalady rice millers setting up paddy processing complex

KALADY Rice Millers Consortium Pvt Ltd, formed by 39 rice millers in Kalady near here, is setting up an integrated paddy-processing complex at an investment of Rs 12 crore.

The complex will have rice bran extraction unit, rice bran oil refinery, cattle feed unit, units for power production and silica extraction from rice husk and extraction of orsinol and lesithinol, which are ideal for cholesterol control.

Initially, the consortium is launching its solvent extraction unit for rice bran oil under the brand name Leads. The refinery to refine the rice bran oil is the next step. It will have the capacity to process up to 40 tonnes daily. The cattle feed unit, which will utilise the de-oiled rice bran will have a production of 50 tonnes a day.

According to Mr N.P. Antony, KRMC Managing Director, the by-product utilisation could lead to an increased demand for paddy, which in turn would prompt others to take up paddy cultivation. The product utilisation of paddy can make the State a major player in the rice market in the country, he said. It may be recalled that Kalady has become the centre of rice processing in the State.

He pointed out that KRMC gets around 500 tonnes of rice husk from the processing of rice and this can be used to generate power. Almost one MW of power can be generated from 40 tonnes of rice husk. The technology is currently available in Japan and a delegation from KRMC will be visiting that country to study the technology, he said.

The ash produced after power generation will go into making silica, which finds application in industries for heat resistant properties.

Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, will inaugurate the solvent extraction unit on December 28.