Nutritional potential and mineral profiling of selected rice variety available in Ethiopia

Bisratewongel Tegegne, Alemayehu Belay and Tsegaye Gashaw

Abstract

Rice, Oryza sativa (Asian rice) and Oryza glaberrima (African rice) is an important staple food crop in many Sub-Saharan African and Asian countries, so the consumer’s daily bowl of rice needs to be safe and of good quality. In the present study, five different rice varieties, one locally grown, three hybrids (NERICA) and imported rice were evaluated for proximate and mineral composition using AOAC standard method of analysis. The results of this study revealed that all selected rice varieties contained considerable amounts of proximate values and mineral elements (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn). NERICA rice had the highest concentration of most proximate values and mineral elements that in most of the other rice varieties. The present analysis revealed that the hybrid NERICA rice variety contained a considerable amount of nutrients.