The government plans to make the nutrient-rich fortified rice available on the open market, said Union Minister of State for Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey. “In the coming years we will try to offer fortified rice not only in PDS shops, but also in open markets. The government is working seriously on it, ”said Choubey.
When rice is fortified, micronutrients such as zinc, vitamin B12 and iron are added to normal rice. Although the taste of the rice does not change, it becomes nutritious and helps to eradicate the prevalent malnutrition in the country.
This is part of the government’s strategy of moving from food security to food security, the minister said after the inauguration of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) quality control laboratory in Gurugram. “We are moving from food security towards food security. The Honorable Prime Minister announced that he would complete this by 2024. But recently, we and other seniors reviewed the Fortified Rice Action Plan. We plan to reach the target before 2024, ”said Choubey.
The goal of delivering fortified rice through public distribution system (PDS) stores will be completed before the deadline, he said.
Completion in three phases is planned, 35 lakh tons of fortified rice will reach the intended beneficiaries according to the National Food Security Act in the first phase by 2022.
In the second phase, 175 lakh tons of fortified rice will be distributed in 291 backward or emerging districts of the country. In the third phase, all 80 crore beneficiaries of the NFSA will be covered, the minister said. The center distributes approximately 375 lakh tons of rice annually through the NFSA and other welfare programs.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) chairman and executive director Atish Chandra said the company was hired to fortify rice in April and it is going smoothly. “In coordination with states and rice mills, more than 16 lakh tons of fortified rice that we have produced will be made available to (the beneficiaries) through the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) and MDM (Mid-Day Meal) programs. FCI is also providing fortified rice for the pilot project that was being carried out to validate it, ”said Chandra.
Speaking of FCI’s testing facilities, Chandra said that many of the company’s centers are currently manual but will be automated. Moisture meters will be automated as planned.
