A rice variety that can be eaten without cooking

NEW DELHI: At a time when India is pushing hard to save energy, scientists in Orissa are doing their bit by popularising a rice variety that can be eaten without being boiled.

Aghonibora, a new rice variety being developed at the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), Cuttack, requires only half-an-hour soaking in water to render it fit to be eaten.

The 'komal saul' or soft rice variety, which was obtained originally from Assam's Titabar Rice Research Station, has very low amylose content -- about 4.5 per cent.

Other rice varieties have up to 20-25 per cent of amylose content that is responsible for hardness of the grains, CRRI scientists said.

"As this rice contains very less amount of amylose, it does not require any boiling. It can be eaten straightaway after just half-an-hour of soaking in water. If the water is lukewarm, it will be prepared within 15-20 minutes," said Srigopal Sharma, Head of Division of Biochemistry, Plant Physiology and Environmental Sciences at CRRI.

Significantly, the rice variety shows no major change in productivity or taste, he said.

"We have done extensive research on the rice variety at the CRRI farm at Cuttack to find out whether it retains the 'soak and eat' characteristic in the hot and humid climate of Orissa," Sharma said.

"The results were positive indicating that it could be promoted in parts of India where parboiled rice is consumed.

"In the preliminary testing, the rice variety took between 140 and 145 days to mature, measured 90 cm in height and yielded about four to five tonnes per hectare of land," said Sharma, who spearheaded the research at CRRI.

The scientist said the variety was one of the major achievements in the field of rice research and added that if they could manage to promote the rice across the country, it would help save fuel and consequently the environment as well.

"Promotion of such rice would save fuel, time, and above all it would help maintain a cleaner environment. It would be very useful for the poor in general, who find it difficult to afford firewood, coal or cooking gas," he said.