KOCHI: Kerala Rice Millers' Consortium Private Ltd. plans to introduce instant rice and rice noodles, which will fetch paddy farmers better prices.

Rice that can be cooked in three minutes, refined rice bran oil, rice flakes which can be sold as snacks and rice noodles are some of the proposed value-added products, says managing director N.P. Antony.

An expert on rice products and technology from the Commonwealth Secretariat is now working with the Consortium members in this effort.

The stone for a rice bran oil refinery was laid recently. The project, estimated to cost Rs.6.25 crore, is being funded jointly by the Union Government, the State Government and the Consortium.

Rice millers say the consortium will be comfortable with electricity generation if rice husk is burnt in high-pressure boilers. Now low-pressure boilers are used. The technology adopted by the rice millers can also be utilised in plywood and paper industries, he says

Husk for brick-making

The Regional Research Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram, has developed technology to utilise the ash from burnt husk in making bricks and tiles. The technology involves mixing the ash with clay, says Mr. Antony.

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