Government to allow rice for beer, animal feed and value-added products

Colombo, July 11 (Daily Mirror) - Government plans to expand the use of locally produced rice beyond household consumption by allowing it to be used in the production of beer, animal feed and other value-added products, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

Speaking at the launch of the second phase of the Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project yesterday, the President said the Government has removed the gazette notification that previously prohibited the use of rice for non-food products.

He said the policy change is intended to create a larger and more competitive market for paddy, particularly during periods of surplus production, helping farmers secure better prices for their harvest.

The President said that research institutions specialising in post-harvest technology have already developed a range of rice-based products, including biscuits, cakes and beverages such as beer, and that the Government now plans to commercialise these innovations.

He said broadening the industrial use of rice would attract more buyers into the market, reducing the dominance of rice millers and increasing demand for paddy, ultimately benefiting farmers through improved market competition.