Mill owners are polishing ordinary rice to make it shiny which result in reducing the nutritional quality of rice as well as increasing price by Tk 3-4 extra, says Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the programme styled “Commercial Journey of Nutritional Rice in Bangladesh” at the Intercontinental hotel in the capital on Thursday.
“Millers usually make five types of polish including wax polish, saline polish and silky polish. It takes away the nutrients. On the other hand, there is a shortage of rice. Due to cos of electricity, cost of expensive polishing machine, manpower and other factors, the cost of rice has been increased by Tk 3-4 extra per kg. The mill owners set the price of polished rice based on that cost. The consumer has to calculate that,” he mentioned.
“Avoid shiny rice and eat nutritious rice”, the food minister said, adding that Bangladesh government has planned to ensure nutritional security.
From the 8th Five Year Plan onwards, all other policies have included the issue of ensuring nutrition, he mentioned. Mr Majumder said, “People are eating shiny rice due to dietary habits. That's why nutrients have to be brought to rice from abroad. It is sad for Bangladesh. If the financial consistency increases, you have to eat shiny rice, you have to get out of this habit.”
He also said that private business organizations and paddy field owners need to take initiative to produce and market nutritional rice so that common people could buy it from the market.
Without their initiative and investment it would not be possible to make nutrition available at the consumer level, he mentioned.
Besides, he urged the private rice trading companies and rice mill owners to take initiative in the production and marketing of nutritious rice and keep the price within the buying capacity of the consumer.
