Why Choose Organic Rice Over Conventional Rice?

Posted by Karthik Guduru on June 3rd, 2015

A meal is never complete in India without rice. It can be cooked as a main dish – Pulav, Biryani or in many other varieties or can be served as a dessert – kheer at the end of your meal. Whether it is a feast or a simple dinner at home, rice is seen on every platter. But, it is slowly falling out of the favorites list and reason being the changing preference of people. They are choosing the healthy and pesticide-free variety of food.  And rice is in news these days for all the wrong reasons; recently inorganic (toxic) form of chemicals is found in traces of Indian rice. The ‘Organic Rice’ came into picture with the vision to reach out to the masses with healthy, fresh and pesticide-free food.

Organic Vs Conventional
Organic farming is a type of farming without the use of chemical fertilizers. It is one of the earliest methods of cultivation, before the advent of the Pesticide Era. But before it is too late people have realized the need for natural farming techniques and hence Organic farming has made a comeback and this time it is here to stay. Traditional methods are combined with modern techniques to create healthy and best yield. An organic farm works like an ecosystem of natural resources. Let us see which among, organic and conventional foods is best for consumption.

Farming Methods:
The most common difference between Conventional and Organic Rice is the farming method. Conventional farming uses chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase the plant growth, to kill pests and disease. Organic cultivation uses only natural fertilizers like manure, compost or plant-killing compounds like neem cake, neem oils. Mechanical ways of pest control like pheromone traps and light traps are also used.

Content of Crops:
The pesticides used in conventional farming leave their residues in soil and on crops. While some of them can be ignored others need serious attention as they are toxic and can be harmful to our health. Whereas in Organic rice, environmentally-friendly fertilizers increase soil health and decrease nutrient run-off.

Health Benefits:
There are significant health benefits by eating organic rice than conventional rice. Pesticide residue can be extremely harmful to health based on its type and level of exposure. Organic, on the other hand is as good as vegetables from your backyard.
Another best feature of organic food is that it is less processed. Rice loses its nutrients and fiber content when it is refined to remove the outer hull and husk.
Organic food is made without the use of food additives like colorings, preservatives, flavoring etc. while conventional rice uses them invariably.

And hence, organic rice is safer, possibly more nutritious and even tastes better than non-organic food. Also, organic farming is safe and good for environment and animals. For a better health and world, let’s go Organic!

Author:
Independent Blogger, Environmentalist, Organic Food Enthusiast, Organic Products Researcher.  Through my Blog’s I am looking forward to share my knowledge in and about Organic Rice, gain new knowledge, and share a positive vibe to this world.