|
|
|
Below are a list of questions often asked and their corresponding answers. If you have a question that you want answered and it is not below please contact us and we will forward you a response. Q. Is white rice bleached rice? A. When rice is harvested, there is a husk that protects the grain, when removed we are left with what we know as ‘brown rice’. The brown rice is then gently milled to remove the outer bran and the finished product is white rice. Q. Is brown rice healthier than white rice? A. Rice is rich in energy-giving carbohydrates, very low in fat, contains no cholesterol, and is salt free, sugar free and gluten free. The difference between white and brown rice is that white rice has the outer layer known as bran removed. Bran is good for maintaining a healthy body. Q. Australia is the driest continent on earth. Do you think that rice should be grown in Australia? A. In Australia, we grow varieties of rice that suit our temperate climate. The rice grown is of the highest quality and suits an environment similar to that of the Mediterranean and California where similar varieties are grown. To suggest that rice should not be grown in Australia would be to suggest that no food or fibre should be grown in our country. Q. Water is a valuable resource in this country so why should we waste water on flooding rice bays? A. The rice industry uses water to produce a staple food that feeds tens of millions of people each day and therefore is a productive use of water. It is necessary to note that unlike any other rice growing country in the world our rice growers follow the strictest management guidelines. They are not permitted to grow rice on soil that is not approved and can only grow rice on 30% of that approved soil. This ensures minimal seepage into the water table below. In addition, many rice farmers directly sow wheat into the rice paddock after it has been harvested therefore utilising the remaining soil moisture to grow another crop. Q. Why do we need to use flood irrigation to grow rice? A. Rice is a semi-aquatic plant that requires consistent levels of water during its lifecycle; this will protect it from climatic change and will maintain our position as the lowest chemical users in the rice industry. In international markets Australian rice is highly regarded not only for its high quality but also for the ‘clean’ final product. Q. Some crops are considered ‘high value’ as their return per megalitre is high. Is rice a high value crop? A. Whilst there are enterprises with higher gross margins per megalitre than rice, we cannot look past the fact that the rice industry is vertically integrated. This means that the grower receives a return from the product sold on our supermarket shelves. It also means they own the industry from paddock to plate, as they are the shareholders of the SunRice brand. A value-added SunRice eXpress 3 Minute Rice Cup for example returns around $6,000 per megalitre – certainly a high value product. Q. Why don’t rice growers plant crops that give a greater return per megalitre, like fruit or vegetables? A. Our Australian rice growers make important decisions based on a range of factors, not just return per megalitre. These include:
|
ABOUT RICE |
    |
© Copyright Ricegrowers' Association of Australia |
FAQ's