New Delhi [India]April 7 (ANI): A total of 269 districts in 27 states have started distribution of fortified rice under the Public Distribution System, Department of Food and Public Distribution Secretary Sanjeev Chopra told reporters.
In a press conference held on Thursday, he said that 100 percent of the target set by March 2023 of the second phase of the Rice Fortification Program has been achieved by distributing it in so many districts.
Fortification is the process of adding micronutrients (iron, folic acid, vitamin B12) to ordinary rice. This process is done at the time of milling of rice in rice mills.
Fortification of rice helps improve nutritional security and helps fight anemia and malnutrition. This strategy is implemented in some other geographies around the world.
He said that in the second phase, about 105 lakh tonnes of fortified rice was lifted by the targeted 27 States/UTs. In addition, about 29 LMT has been lifted by States/UTs under ICDS and PM Poshan, taking the total lifting of fortified rice to about 134 LMT ending FY 2022-23.
An official release by the ministry said, “Now under Phase III, the department is set to complete the coverage of all remaining districts except wheat consuming districts before the target date of March 2024.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 75th Independence Day address (August 15, 2021) had announced supply of fortified rice across the country by 2024 in a phased manner.
Meanwhile, the number of rice mills with rice blending infrastructure has increased from 2,690 to 18,227 from August 2021 to March 2023.
The cumulative annual confirmed rice manufacturing capacity has increased by more than 18 times from 0.9 lakh tonnes to 17 lakh tonnes in August 2021. (ANI)
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