Row over rice ban quality persists

Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Feb 13 (UNI) The row over quality of rice bran remains unresolved even after two meetings between the Solvent Extractors Association and the rice millers.

Speaking to the press here, Andhra Pradesh Rice Millers Association President D Bhaskara Reddy said though the association had agreed for establishment of quality control testing laboratories at Kakinada, Vijayawada and Hyderabad, it failed to materialise owing to lack of commitment on their part.

He alleged the solvent extractors were now insisting 20 per cent oil content in raw rice bran as against 16 per cent earlier and 23 per cent in case of boiled rice bran as against the existing 19 per cent.

Stating oil content in rice bran varied from region to region, Mr Reddy reiterated his charge that the solvent extractors were indulging in exploitation, paying lower price to the millers by falsifying oil content tests.

He wanted fixing of prices based on the laboratory analysis to ensure fair price to the rice millers.

He hoped that an amicable settlement would be arrived at the joint meeting to be held at Hyderabad on February 15.

However, the AP Solvent Extractors Association President Rajaiah differed with millers contention.

He told UNI the new norms of oil content in the rice bran were fixed by the All India Solvent Extractors Association and all rice millers in the country, except those in Andhra Pradesh, were following them.

Since higher price was being offered for rice bran commensurate with new norms of oil content, he said the millers should not have any objection for the new norms but instead fall in line with their counter parts all over the country.

UNI XR/AP GM BJR RAI2031