By Faiza Tehseen

ISLAMABAD, Aug 15 (INP-WealthPK): Pakistan is one of the largest importers of carnauba wax spending millions of dollars annually. Carnauba wax is widely used in many food products and industrial processes. Being the 10^th largest producer of paddy worldwide, the country can save precious foreign exchange through regular production of rice bran wax that can be used as a substitute for Carnauba wax. The country cruelly wastes by-products i.e. husk and rice bran (also called rice polish) which are obtained in rice processing.

During the year 2021, Pakistan imported Carnauba wax worth about US$3.2 million against HS codes 15211000, 11219090, 34059000 from Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, USA, Austria, Bahrain, Egypt, European Union, Germany and the United Kingdom. All this importing can be avoided with a little attention to our own production.

Principal Scientific Officer (Plant Introduction and Seed Health lab) from the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) Dr. Riffat Tahira shared his views with WealthPK about the local production of rice bran wax. “Rice bran wax keeps higher fatty acids and a good flavour. It can be used instead of honeybee wax and Carnauba wax. It is a derivative of a waste product called rice bran that is gained after milling rice. Rice bran wax is an additional product extracted after the filtration of rice bran oil. It possesses a high melting point and is hard in nature. Principal constituents of rice bran wax are esters of higher fatty acids, higher alcohols, small amounts of free fatty acids with some hydrocarbons, etc.”

Talking to WealthPK, senior scientist (Technology Lab) from the Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku Mohsin Ali Raza said, “Pakistan produced 8.5 million tonnes of paddy during the year 2021-22 which was capable of producing about 0.85 million tonnes of bran. To get proper benefits from the rice bran, it is important to fully explore the rice bran oil (RBO) production. It serves many industries i.e., pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textiles, fruit and vegetable coating to prevent moisture loss, textiles, paper coating, waterproofing, textiles, electric insulations, carbon paper production, printing inks, chewing gum, typewriter ribbons, adhesives, leather coating, crayons making, lubricants and natural wax candle production. In short, it acts like a binder, thickener, gelling agent, and plasticizer. By installing small processing units in the rice cultivation areas, the farmers can not only get the other source of sustainable living, but the country can also reap its fruit by saving import bills.”

Such small projects can strengthen the SME sector as well. The agricultural sector in Pakistan plays an important role in the economic cycle. Innovative ideas not only open new windows of opportunity, but also enhance the industrial circle of a country.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk