Cabinet Committee On Economic Affairs (CCEA) Approves Distribution Of Fortified Rice Across Government Schemes.

April 11, 2022

Why in news?

CCEA has approved the supply of fortified rice in government-run food schemes by 2024 in a phased manner with an aim to combat nutrition deficiency in all states and UTs.
Supply of fortified rice through Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) will be done under National Food Security Act (NFSA), In tegrated Child Development Services (ICDS), PM POSHAN, and other welfare schemes (OWS).
Entire cost of rice fortification would be borne by Centre.
Three phases are envisaged for full implementation
- Phase-I: Covering ICDS and PM POSHAN in India all over by March, 2022 which is under implementation.
- Phase-II: Phase I above plus TPDS and OWS in all Aspirational and High Burden Districts i; on stunting (total 291 districts) by March 2023.
- Phase-III: Phase II above plus covering the remaining districts of the country by March 2024.
Rice fortification is a process of adding micronutrients, commonly iron, Vitamin B12 and folic acid, to regular rice to improve the dietary requirement.
Benefits of rice fortification
- Provide nutritional boost to undernourished and vulnerable populations.
- Combat anaemia.
- Cost-effective.
- Helpful in pregnancy for growth of the baby.

About Extrusion technology

In India, rice is fortified using extrusion technology.
In this technology, milled rice is pulverized and mixed with a premix containing vitamins and minerals.
Fortified rice kernels (FRK) are produced from this mixture using an extruder machine.
FRK is added to traditional rice in ratio ranging from 1:50 to 1: 200 resulting in fortified rice nearly identical to traditional rice in aroma, taste, and texture.