{"id":136834,"date":"2024-10-10T19:25:09","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T13:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=136834"},"modified":"2024-10-11T18:30:02","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T13:00:02","slug":"fortification-of-rice","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/fortification-of-rice","title":{"rendered":"Fortification of Rice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Cabinet has extended the universal supply of fortified rice in all central government schemes under the National Food Security Act, 2021 until December 2028.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Rice Fortification Initiative to Combat Anaemia with 100% Central Funding<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rice fortification initiative would continue as a central sector initiative with 100% funding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative aims <\/span><b>to address anaemia<\/b> <b>and micronutrient deficiencies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the population.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8996%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Micronutrients\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Micronutrients <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consist of vitamins and minerals and are <\/span><b>measured in either milligrams (mg)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, micrograms (mcg) or International Units (IU).<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>For Example:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Vitamin B1: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as thiamine, vitamin B1 aids in converting nutrients into energy. They are found in Foods including white rice, fortified breakfast cereals and black beans.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Vitamin B2: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as riboflavin, this vitamin is good for energy production, cell function and fat metabolism. They are found in foods including instant oats, fat-free yogurt and milk.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Macronutrients<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Macronutrients<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are a group of nutrients that provide your body with energy and the components it needs to maintain its structure and functions. They\u2019re needed in relatively larger amounts than other nutrients, hence the term \u201cmacro\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>For Example:\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Carbohydrates, protein, and fat.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>What is Food Fortification?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136810 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/104-6707d7407369d.webp\" alt=\"Rice\" width=\"400\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/104-6707d7407369d.webp 557w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/104-6707d7407369d-300x247.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food fortification<\/span><b> involves deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in food to improve its nutritional quality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and provide public health benefits with minimal health risks.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) defines this process and oversees its implementation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Fortification of Rice<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rice is fortified using various technologies such as <\/span><b>coating, dusting, and extrusion.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The extrusion process produces fortified rice kernels (FRKs) by mixing dry rice flour with a premix of micronutrients, which is then processed through an extruder to create kernels resembling regular rice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortified rice is blended with regular rice, ensuring 10 grams of FRK is combined with 1 kilogram of regular rice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Fortified rice is enriched with essential micronutrients<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including:<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Iron:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 28 mg &#8211; 42.5 mg<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Folic Acid:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 75 &#8211; 125 micrograms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Vitamin B-12:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 0.75 &#8211; 1.25 micrograms<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additional nutrients may include zinc, vitamin A, and various B vitamins.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Progress of the Fortification Initiative<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rice fortification initiative was announced in<\/span><b> 2015,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a goal for implementation across various central government schemes by 2024.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative has been rolled out in<\/span><b> three phases:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Phase 1:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Covered programs like Integrated Child Development Services and PM POSHAN by March 2022.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Phase 2:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Extended to Public Distribution System (PDS) in 112 Aspirational Districts and 291 high stunting burden districts by March 2023.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Phase 3:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Aims for full coverage across remaining districts by March 2024.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Annual cost: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approximately Rs 2,700 crore, accounting for less than 2% of India\u2019s total food subsidy bill.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Distribution so far:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> By March 2024, about 406 lakh metric tonnes of fortified rice are expected to be distributed through the PDS.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Facility for Fortification: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centre has invested Rs 11,000 crore to develop the fortified rice supply chain in India, with 925 manufacturers producing fortified rice.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Benefits of Fortified Rice<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortified rice retains the same cooking and eating properties as regular rice, making it easy to integrate into daily diets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is packaged in jute bags labelled with the logo (\u2018+F\u2019) and the statement \u201cFortified with Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Need of Fortified Rice<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India faces significant<\/span><b> malnutrition challenges<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with\u00a0 one in two women is anaemic and one in three children is stunted.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shows that <\/span><b>anaemia affects diverse demographics across age and income levels,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid being prevalent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortifying rice, a staple food for<\/span><b> two-thirds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Indian population, provides a strategic approach to supplement the diets of economically vulnerable groups.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.043%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 130.811%; 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