About Rice Bran | UPSC Current Affairs

Description

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Context:

China has started promoting Rice bran as the staple food amid the ongoing food shortage in the country.

About Rice Bran:

Rice bran is the brown outer layer of the rice kernel, mainly composed of the pericarp, aleuron, seed coat, and germ.
It contains 50% carbohydrate (mainly starch), 20% fat, 15% protein, and 15% dietary fiber (DF), mainly insoluble fiber.

Fig: Structure of Rice Bran

Uses of Rice Bran:

The two main uses are to extract oil and feed it to animals.
RB is a rich source of a protein, fat, dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (mainly oryzanols and tocopherols), and is currently mostly used as animal feed.
Rice bran is used for oil extraction and many by-products are produced during processing of rice bran oil, viz., wax sludge, gum sludge, soap stock sludge, fatty acid distillate and deodorizer distillate.

Why is China focussing on Rice Bran?

Global Warming and loss of productive land

In addition to global warming, a major factor contributing to the growing food problem in China is the loss of agriculturally productive land as well.

Land ideal for agriculture

A fifth of the world's population lives in China. However, it is estimated that only 11 per cent of the country's land is what would be considered ideal for agriculture.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine also had a negative effect on the nation's food supply system and has caused chaos.

Covid-induced disruption

The Covid-induced disruption has aggravated an already serious situation on the food front. This predicament comes at a time when the race to industrialize in China has left it with a lop-sided development, with a shortage of arable land.

China’s shifting policy towards Rice Bran?

The development of the rice bran industry in order to promote rice bran in the diet is essential for improving the nutrition and health of its people, and it will also help to promote food loss reduction, according to China's National Health Commission.
National Rural Industry Development Plan (2020-2025) was created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2020 to encourage the full usage of byproducts such as rice husks, rice bran, wheat bran, and others.

Rice Bran in India:

Rice bran has become a sought-after commodity in India as the world's biggest importer of vegetable oils tries to overcome an edible oil shortage caused by global supply disruptions.
The central government is pushing for more domestic rice bran oil production, in a bid to counter the inflation in edible oil prices across the country. The move comes at a time when the country is witnessing high inflation in food prices.
Rice bran oil accounts for a small portion of overall vegetable oil consumption in India but is one of the fastest-growing among edible oils.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Which of the following statements are incorrect?

Rice bran is the inner layer of the rice kernel, mainly composed of the pericarp, aleuron, seed coat, and germ.
China is the highest producer of rice bran oil in the world followed by India.
RB is a rich source of a protein, fat, dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
The many by-products are produced during processing of rice bran oil, viz., wax sludge, gum sludge, soap stock sludge, fatty acid distillate and deodorizer distillate.

Answer: 1 and 2 are incorrect.

Explanation:

Rice bran is the outer layer of the rice kernel, mainly composed of the pericarp, aleuron, seed coat, and germ.

India is the highest producer of rice bran oil in the world followed by China.