A plan is underway to manufacture value-added products from the byproducts (rice husk and rice bran) of the rice processing mills, according to Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).
Rice husk power plant as the renewable energy and rice bran oil factories will be developed. Those interested individuals, millers, affiliated associations and member companies can put investments in the construction project through Myanmar Rice Federation’s Research and Development Committee (MRF – R&D Committee), according to the statement released by MRF.
Those value-added projects can contribute to the green electricity generation, edible oil sector and feedstuff processing industries. Furthermore, it can bring about job opportunities, domestic manufacturing, technology improvement and economic benefits. MRF will connect those investors to the development partner organizations and international institutions to get access to medium- and long-term project financing and receive technical assistance.
Rice and rice products exports are identified in the National Export Strategy (NES). To diversify the exports according to the action plans of NES, MRF is working together with the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar Trade Promotion Organization and the Consumer Affairs Department.
MRF is implementing the research and development activities to effectuate the sustainable rice value chains, increase the number of parboiled rice mills beyond the development of rice milling, promote the use of rice dryers, production of high-grade rice and fortified rice and value-adding process of rice and byproducts rice husks from paddy, rice powder and rice vermicelli, in coordination with the Myanmar Rice Millers Association and the domestic and international development partners.
Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation (MAPCO) formed by the federation has been carrying out pilot projects such as Boiler Turbine based Rice Husk fired Power Generation Plants in Kyaiklat and Myaungmya townships and rice bran oil manufacturing with Solvent Extraction and Physical Refining Technology.
MRF President U Ye Min Aung stated that the annual production value amounted to K7,000 billion from the rice industry. MRF is striving to increase in Gross Domestic Product and efforts are being made to boost the trade and promote the investments by leading the businesspersons. In the difficult times of the pandemic, the federation is endeavouring to increase the rice productivity per acre and add value to the byproducts from the rice mills as import substitution. The efforts of domestic manufacturing and job creation will contribute to the country’s GDP to a great extent. — Taryar/GNLM
