Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

To address anemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in

the country, Centre expedites capacity of the
fortification of rice to increase from 15,000 MT to 3.5
lakh MT by incentivising and creating awareness
among rice millers

Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on "Fortification of

Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution
System" was launched for a period of 3 years
beginning in 2019-20

The Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on

"Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public
Distribution System currently implemented in Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu,
Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh

Fortification of rice is a cost-effective and

complementary strategy to increase vitamin and
mineral content in diets and a step towards
nutritional security and to fight anemia and
malnutrition in the country
Posted On: 29 JUN 2021 3:52PM by PIB Delhi

To address anemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country, Centre has expedited capacity of the
fortification of rice to increase from 15,000 MT to 3.5 lakh MT by incentivising and creating awareness
among rice millers
It may be noted that Government of India had approved a Sponsored Pilot Scheme on "Fortification of Rice &
its Distribution under Public Distribution System" for a period of 3 years beginning in 2019-20 with total
outlay of Rs 174.64 Crore.
NITI Aayog also in its “Strategy for new INDIA @75” has put suggested a mandatory fortification of staples
and to incorporate fortified food-grains in Government programmes, TPDS (NFSA) ICDS, Mid-day Meal
Scheme (MDM) etc.
The Department of Food & Public Distribution along with Food Corporation of India started distributing
Fortified Rice under ICDS/MDM from April, 2021. FCI has procured nearly 6.07 LMT of Fortified rice (FCI
& DCP) so far all over the country to distribute under ICDS/MDM in the States/UTs. A proposal of further
scaling up of rice fortification is under process. Expediting the fortification of rice to increase the capacity
from 15,000 MT to 3.5 lakh MT by incentivizing and creating awareness among rice millers.
Presently, there is no scheme available for connecting rice millers with banks. However, letter was sent to
States to connect Millers with Banks in respect of various provisions of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package of
MSME. Also, the incremental cost of fortification of rice is fixed at Rs 0.73/Kg which includes the
components like FRK Procurement & transportation, Operational Cost, Depreciation, Annual interest cost on
total investment, Interest on working capital, Quality Control (laboratories test, collection charges etc.)
The Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on "Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution
System currently implemented in 6 States, - Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh
and Uttar Pradesh have started the distribution of fortified rice under pilot scheme. The State of Kerala and
Odisha are likely to start the distribution shortly. Approximately 1.73 Lakh MT of fortified rice is distributed
till May, 2021 under the pilot scheme. As per latest information received from UN-WFP, current FRK
production stands at around 50,000 MT per annum. States/Development partners have been asked to conduct
Baseline/Endline evaluation studies in the respective States to measure/compare the impacts on consumption
of fortified rice
Fortification of rice is a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in
diets and a step towards nutritional security and to fight anemia and malnutrition in the country. This strategy
has a proven track record across many geographies in the world. It may be noted that in India, 58.5% of
young children aged 6-59 months, 53% of women within the reproductive age group and 22.7% of all men
aged 15-49 years of age suffer from anemia (Source: National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – IV (2015-16).

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DJN/MS

(Release ID: 1731144)