Rice Fortification Pilot Scheme

(Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution)

 

WHAT

In order to ensure effective tackling the problem of Malnutrition, a road map will be charted out by the Department of Food and Public Distribution for taking the pilot scheme of Rice Fortification all over the country.

• It is a centrally-sponsored pilot scheme on the fortification of rice and its dispersal through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• Financial assistance of up to 90 percent in the case of North-Eastern, Hilly and Island States and up to 75 percent in the case of the rest of the States has been extended.

 

IMPORTANCE OF FORTIFICATION

Fortification is a complementary strategy to fight malnutrition under which the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, vitamins A & D to staple foods such as rice, wheat, oil, milk and salt are done to improve their nutritional content.

The requirement of nutrients in children varies with age, gender and nutritional status of the children.

 

WAY FORWARD

The Recommended Dietary Allowance for the Indian population is finalized by the National Institute of Nutrition Indian Council of Medical Research (NIN-ICMR). It is based on the recommendations of the Expert Group, based on individual variability and nutrient bio-availability from the habitual diet.

The central government has also advised all states & UTs, that are distributing wheat flour through PDS, to distribute fortified wheat flour through PDS.

 

 

BIOFORTIFICATION

It is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology. It differs from conventional fortification.

Biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during the processing of the crops.

 

 

Source: PIB

 

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