Fortification of Rice Scheme to be implemented in 15 states

As of November 3, 2020, around 15 State Governments have identified districts to implement the Fortification of Rice Scheme. The State Governments have identified the districts where the scheme is to be implemented and have notified the same to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Key Highlights

The Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India has been implementing the “Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on Fortification of Rice and its distribution through Public Distribution System”. The scheme is to be implemented for a period of three years between 2019-20 and 2022-23. The total estimated budget of the scheme is Rs 174.6 crores. The scheme was launched to take the country towards nutritional security.

The distribution of fortified rice is already being implemented by five states namely Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

Need of the moment

Currently, the availability of fortified rice kernels in the country is 15,000 metric ton per annum. With this Government of India has to cover 112 aspirational districts. In order to achieve this around 130 lac metric tons of fortified rice is required. The quantity of fortified rice kernels required to achieve this target is 1.3 lakh metric tonnes.

If the entire Public Distribution system right supply is to be e replaced with fortified rice, then, around 3.5 lac metric tons of fortified rice kernels  is required.

 Machineries

Currently there are more than 28000 rice mills in India. These rice Mills have to be equipped with blending machines to mix the fortified rice kernels with the normal rice. The Food Corporation of India will soon tie up with the rice mills in different regions of the country in order to achieve this.

 How is rice fortified?

According to the World Health Organisation, fortification of rice is done by adding micronutrient powder to the rice. This powder adheres to rice grains.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2020