China Paddy Husk Processing Technology For Kelantan

China Paddy Husk Processing Technology For Kelantan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Kelantan aims to utilise paddy husk processing technology from China to boost the animal feed industry in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

The Kelantan State Agriculture, Rural Industries and Biotechnology Committee recently met a team of biotechnology experts from Beijing, Shanghai, Nanking and Technology Risk Management Company at an economic exchange conference, the ECER secretariat said in a statement.

Committee chairman Che Abdullah Mat Nawi said the conference provided an opportunity for the state government agencies to gain valuable insights into Chinas biotechnology development.

"The research team from China expressed their interest to invest here as Kelantan is a state with bountiful natural resources and minerals, hence having high potential for biotechnology industry development," he said.

Paddy husk is produced throughout the world as a waste by-product of the milling process. In Malaysia, some 350,000 tonnes of paddy husks are produced annually.

This figure represents 22 per cent of total paddy milled. The waste have traditionally been burnt in the field or trucked out and dumped.

With growing awareness for environmental conservation, these practices are becoming unacceptable.

In recent years, practical alternatives are being sought and developed to improve environmental management.

One of the major alternatives is to use paddy husk as an animal feed component.

This will help solve some of the environmental problems and simultaneously create an additional source of income for rice farmers.

Malaysia imports about RM1.1 billion worth of animal feed annually, with most of it grain-based feed due to the high cost of grain production domestically.

However, the livestock industry is still facing animal feed shortage following Indias ban on maize export.

ECER targets that by 2020, the animal feed industry cluster for forage, silage and grain-based feed will reach 100,500, 20,100 and 561,830 metric tonnes, respectively.

-- BERNAMA