Scientist recommends local red & black rice for health

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 22: Biotechnologist AK Handique of Gauhati University has said that the tempting ‘white rice’ robs people of nutrition which rice usually has.

Prof. Handique is the Head of the Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University. He has carried out a lot of research on rice, especially red rice, grown in Assam.

Talking to The Sentinel, Prof. Handique said: “People are generally tempted by the white hue of rice and its cleanliness. The more white rice is, the less nutritious it is.  De-husking of paddy in rice mill lessens rice lipid, fats, vitamins etc. What such rice mostly left with is carbohydrate that gives energy to us, not other nutrients. The most nutritious ones are red and black rice husked manually in husking paddle or by pounding with pestle and mortar. Consumers are mostly misled by shopkeepers by temping them with the colour. The prices of white rice are more than that of indigenous red and black varieties. If the consumers accept the local rice from the point of view of its nutrients, the local farmers will be benefited a lot.”