Biofortification

Fortified rice distributed via ration shops in 439 districts, other schemes

The government on Tuesday said fortified rice is being distributed through ration shops in 439 districts and other welfare schemes so far, while asserting that there is enough global evidence of its health benefits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address in 2021 said the government aims to distribute fortified rice via the government schemes by 2024. Thereafter, a scheme for the distribution of fortified rice, containing prescribed micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) was launched on October 2021 in a phased manner in order to address the problem of anaemia in children and women. Addressing a press conference, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh noted that there is "global evidence" of the health benefits of fortified rice and it is being implemented in several countries including the USA. Moreover, the Women and Child Development Ministry and government think-tank Niti Aayog had advocated the distribution of fortified rice and the scheme wa

Agricultural scientist urges for promotion of bio fortified crops

Chairperson of New Delhi-based Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority (PPV&FRA) Trilochan Mohapatra on Sunday called upon agricultural scientists to jealously promote nutritional literacy in the country by mainstreaming the bio-fortified crops. He stressed the need for an enlarged food basked that would address malnutrition, adequate seed production and price advantate to farmers Mohapatra, a former head of the Directorate of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and former Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), was delivering the first K Ramiah Foundation Day lecture here at the National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) on Sunday. He said the global food system is currently being challenged by three 'Cs': Climate change, Covid and Conflicts. Speaking at length on nutrition security through various food crops to address the malnutrition menace, the senior rice scientist, in his talk, spelt out the priorities for farm ...

Fortified rice available via PDS, to cover whole India by Mar 24: Food Secy

Fortified rice is being distributed via public distribution system (PDS) in 269 districts so far and will cover the rest of the districts well before the deadline of March 2024, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address in 2021 said the government aims to distribute fortified rice via the government schemes by 2024. Thereafter, a scheme for the distribution of fortified rice, containing prescribed micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) was launched on October 2021 in a phased manner in order to address the problem of anaemia in children and women. Addressing a press conference, Chopra said fortified rice distribution in the last two phases has been implemented successfully. "This is a unique and very successful initiative of the central government which has given extremely good results in the past two years. We are extremely enthused by the response we got from the public," he said. There was a certa

Over 260 districts in 27 states distributing fortified rice: Govt

A total of 269 districts in 27 states have started distributing fortified rice under the Targeted Public Distribution System, achieving a 100 per cent target set for second phase by March 2023

Centre plans to distribute 37.5 mt of fortified rice by March 2024

Fortified rice with essential nutrients was started on a pilot basis for three years in 2019-20

Nutrition through biofortification

The benefits of the biofortified crops have been corroborated even by the actual impact assessment studies on children and women

Is grain fortification the only way to meet India's nutritional challenge?

Some experts say fortified grain is a wasteful expenditure with no tangible results, and advocate balanced diet instead. Others cite the success of fortification in other South Asian countries.

Biofortified pearl millet can fight India's iron deficiency problem

Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia which limits brain development and learning capacity

A means to fight hidden hunger

Biofortification alters the genetics of plants to make their output healthier