This story is from October 2, 2021

Karnataka: Rice fortification scheme in Koppal to tackle malnutrition, anaemia

In a bid to tackle malnutrition and anaemia faced by women and children in backward districts of north Karnataka region, the state government has launched rice fortification project on the lines of Odisha model on a pilot basis in two villages of Koppal district.
Karnataka: Rice fortification scheme in Koppal to tackle malnutrition, anaemia
For Good Health: Volunteers distribute fortified rice, which contains iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and folic acid to children under the pilot project taken up at Sangapur and Mukumpi villages of Gangavati
KOPPAL: In a bid to tackle malnutrition and anaemia faced by women and children in backward districts of north Karnataka region, the state government has launched rice fortification project on the lines of Odisha model on a pilot basis in two villages of Koppal district.
The district administration has launched this pilot project in collaboration with Rizmaq Company as per state government’s direction in two village-Sangapur and Mukumpi of Gangavati taluk.
The experts from Rizmaq are working with the district administration to improve the health condition of malnourished children, men and women in the villages. The fortified rice, which contains iron, zinc, Vitamin B12, and folic acid will be blended with regular rice supplied through PDS as well as with rice supplied for mid-day meal scheme and Anganwandi centres.
Sameer Ahmed, founder of Rizmaq, told TOI that they have achieved a big success in the fortification of rice project at Gajapti district in Odisha. “Before launching our project, 68% of people in Gajapti were suffering from anaemic issues and iron deficiencies. Our five years of concerted efforts helped to bring down the number of people suffering from anaemia to 34%,” he added.
“In Karnataka, we have chosen Koppal district since it is declared as one of worst affected district in terms of malnutrition. We have selected Sangapur and Mukumpi villages for our pilot project. We plan to work here for 3-6 months. Now, 58% are suffering from anaemia in these two villages,” he said.
“We will blend fortified rice into regular rice supplied through PDS, and also serve rice in Anganwadi centres and also to the children covered under the mid-day meal scheme. This way, all men and women, including pregnant women will be served with regular rice blended with fortified rice,” he said.
“Fortified rice is the science of combining essential micro-nutrients with rice flour and extruding rice kernels from that combination. It helps to increase iron and nutrition among the people who consume it daily. We blend one kg of fortified rice with 99 kg of regular rice. We are visiting each house and creating awareness on how this blended rice helps to improve their health,” he said.
Koppal deputy Commissioner Suralkar Vikas Kishore said that Rizmac is implementing this project on an experimental basis. “After three months, our health experts will do a comparative study to know the results of consuming fortified rice and then we will submit a report to the state government. Depending on the results, we will decide to extend it to other parts of the district,” he added.
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