Increase in rice production:

Growing demand for rice based products

Hemanthi GURUGE

Paddy production in the country will increase substantially once paddy production in North and East is added to the main stream, Central Bank Deputy Governor K.G.D.D Dheerasinghe said.

Speaking at a workshop on promoting rice flour based bakery products yesterday, he said paddy lands in the country have increased by 24 percent since the establishment of peace which has resulted in increased paddy production. Dheerasinghe said the excess rice production needs to be diverted to produce other value added rice base products to maintain market stability for paddy with a remunerative price for farmers.

He said the agriculture sector is more important for the country to move forward. However the agriculture sector in the country has increased only by 10 percent in 2010.

“Rice based products are healthier and will bring a number of benefits to the country. The products in term of taste and nutritious value contribute to the healthy life of the people. The demand for rice flour based products is growing rapidly in the local market,” he said.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) under its Viskam loan scheme has facilitated to setup two rice flour based bakeries to increase rice flour based bakery products.

The price of rice flour is now cheaper than wheat flour by Rs 10.

Bakery owners from various parts of the country have requested to train their staff to produce high quality rice flour based bakery products in the future.