The Hindu Business Line : Plea to ensure mandatory upgradation of rice mills

THE Oil Technologists' Association of India (OTAI) has urged the State Governments to make it mandatory for huller or traditional rice mills to upgrade by adopting modern technology to boost rice bran oil production in the country.

Mr S.K. Roy, President, OTAI, told reporters here on Thursday that India had the potential to produce 12 lakh tonnes of rice bran oil annually. The actual production, however, stands at six lt per annum. Mr Roy said many huller mills were entitled to tax exemptions and, hence, were disinclined to invest in technological upgradation. He urged the Centre and State Governments to give 100 per cent subsidy on their upgradation costs.

According to him, such a move would benefit the country greatly. "The domestic consumption of edible oils has been pegged at 100-110 lakh tonnes. Of this, 45-50 lakh tonnes is imported at a cost of over Rs 10,000 crore. Substantial foreign exchange savings can be achieved if the untapped potential of an additional six lakh tonnes of rice bran oil can be manufactured in India. Mr Roy said Government guidelines in India permitted the manufacture and consumption of as many as 25 different types of vegetable oils.

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