President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the Government plans to expand the use of locally produced rice beyond consumption as a staple food, including for the production of beer, animal feed and other value-added products.
Speaking at the launch of the second phase of the Anuradhapura North Water Supply Project yesterday, the President said the Government has removed a gazette notification that previously prohibited the use of rice for non-food products.
He said the move aims to create a larger market for paddy, particularly during periods of surplus production, enabling farmers to receive fairer and more competitive prices.
The President said rice-based products such as biscuits, cakes and beverages, including beer, have already been developed at the research level by post-harvest institutions and the Government plans to commercialise them.
He noted that expanding the use of rice would encourage more buyers to enter the market, creating competition beyond rice millers and benefiting paddy farmers through increased demand for their harvest. (Newswire)