Value Creation from Waste Generated in the Rice Milling Production Process: A Case Study of Entrepreneurs in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to study the types and quantities of waste generated from the rice milling production process and propose guidelines to utilize waste. The key informants were rice mill entrepreneurs who had participated in training programs organized by the Department of Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce, under a project aimed at enhancing the capacity of rice mills. Eligible participants had a minimum of 10 years of experience or held positions within the Rice Mill Association or Southern Farmer Group and had purchased no less than 3,000 tons of rice from farmers in the previous season. Data was collected between February 1-10, 2024, using semi-structured interviews until saturation was reached with 16 samples. The data were analyzed thematically and validated through triangulation. The findings revealed several types of waste produced during the milling process, including impurities (quantity unconfirmed), shriveled rice (5–10%), grass flowers and husks (0.5%), yellowed rice (2%), weedy rice (0.05–0.10%), and chalky rice (1%). Waste utilization guidelines included converting weeds into fertilizer, grinding low-quality rice into flour for rice vermicelli, and reintegrating weedy rice into the milling process.