New Delhi, Nov 21 (FN Agency) The government could achieve the goal of providing fortified rice through public distribution system (PDP) shops before the deadline of 2024 and would also make the nutrition-rich rice available in the open market, Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said. Speaking after inauguration of the Food Corporation of India (FCI)’s quality control lab at Gurugram, the Minister said the government is moving from food security to nutrition security. “From food security, we are moving towards nutrition security. Hon’ble prime minister had announced to complete this by 2024. But recently we and other senior officials were sitting and reviewed the plan of action about fortified rice. We have planned to achieve the target before 2024,” Choubey said. The scheme of fortified rice is scheduled to be completed in three phases.
In the first phase, 35 lakh metric tonne (MT) of fortified rice will reach intended beneficiaries by 2022. In the second phase, 175 lakh MT fortified rice will be distributed in 291 backward or aspirational districts in the country. In the third phase, we would be covering all the beneficiaries of PDS (public distribution system) and distribute 375 lakh MT fortified rice, the minister informed. “In coming years, we will try to make available fortified rice not only in PDS shops but also in open markets. The government is seriously working on this,” said the minister of state (MoS) for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. During fortification of rice, micro nutrients such as zinc, vitamin B12 and iron are added to the regular rice. It tastes same as regular rice but is more nutritious. The minister said that providing good quality and nutritious food to the poor is a challenge but the government has accepted the challenge. In his address, FCI Chairman and Managing Director Atish Chandra said that the Corporation was tasked with the job of fortifying rice in April and the same is being carried out smoothly.
“In co-ordination with states and rice mills, more than 16 lakh MT of fortified rice we have produced and are available with us which are being made available (to the beneficiaries) through ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) and MDM (Mid-Day Meal) schemes. FCI is also providing fortified rice for the pilot project which has been run for its validation,” Chandra said. On testing facilities of FCI, Chandra said that many of the company’s centres are currently manual but are being automated. In line with the plan, moisture meters are being automated. “The lab which has been inaugurated today is part of our efforts to strengthen and upgrade the testing facilities. This lab has best of the best machines available in the country. It could test samples for compliance to FSSAI, BIS and our food department’s paramaters. …Four more such labs are being set up in different zones and we are targetting their operations by March,” the FCI Chairman said. Before foodgrains are supplied from FCI godowns for distribution they would be tested at these labs for pesticides residue, mycotoxins and fortification level of vitamins.