Fortified Rice

The Fortified Rice Rollout has been suspended temporarily due to concerns over nutrient degradation. Read here to learn about the Public Health Gains and Storage Realities.

The Central Government has temporarily suspended the distribution of fortified rice under key welfare schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), due to concerns over nutrient degradation arising from extended storage periods.

The move follows findings highlighting shelf-life challenges under India’s high buffer stock regime.

What is Fortified Rice?

Fortified rice is regular milled rice that has been enriched with essential micronutrients:

• Iron
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B12

The objective is to combat hidden hunger, micronutrient deficiencies that may not manifest immediately but cause long-term health issues like anemia, impaired cognitive development, and poor maternal health outcomes.

India has one of the world’s highest burdens of anemia, especially among women and children, making fortification a mass-scale public health strategy.

Read: Biofortification

Associated Schemes

The fortification initiative was integrated into major social protection programmes:

1. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) – Free foodgrain distribution.
2. Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
3. PM-POSHAN – Formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
4. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) – Delivered through Anganwadi centres.

Through these platforms, fortified rice targeted vulnerable populations, pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, and low-income households.

Aim of the Fortification Drive

The primary goals were:

• Reduce anemia prevalence.
• Improve maternal and child health indicators.
• Achieve nationwide nutrition coverage by 2024.
• Provide a cost-effective, scalable intervention through existing food distribution systems.

By making fortified rice mandatory in welfare schemes, the government aimed to embed nutrition security within food security.

Steps in Rice Fortification

1. Production of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK)

• Rice flour is mixed with a premix of vitamins and minerals.
• The mixture is processed using an extruder machine.
• Grain-like kernels are produced.

2. Blending Process

• FRKs are blended with regular rice in a 1:100 ratio.
• This ensures uniform micronutrient distribution.

Key Features of the Initiative

Government-Funded: The cost of fortification was borne by the Government of India as part of the food subsidy.

Phased Rollout

• Began in 2021.
• Target: All districts by June 2024.

Technical Support: Organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) provided technical guidance and training.

Why Has Distribution Been Suspended?

1. High Buffer Stocks

India maintains large foodgrain reserves through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Rice often remains in storage for 2-3 years.

2. Shelf-Life Concerns

An IIT-Kharagpur study highlighted:

• Moisture and humidity degrade micronutrients over prolonged storage.
• Nutrient loss compromises the intended health benefits.

This creates a paradox- The rice remains edible, but its fortification value diminishes over time.

Hence, distribution has been temporarily halted until a robust storage and delivery mechanism is ensured.

Findings of the IIT Kharagpur Study

The Government-commissioned study by IIT Kharagpur on the stability of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) and Fortified Rice (FR) under real storage conditions has raised significant operational concerns.

The findings highlight the scientific and logistical challenges of implementing a nationwide rice fortification programme within India’s existing procurement and buffer stock framework.

Key Findings of the IIT Kharagpur Study:

The study assessed fortified rice across diverse agro-climatic zones and concluded that the following factors critically affect nutrient stability:

• Moisture content
• Storage conditions
• Temperature
• Relative humidity
• Packaging material
• Routine handling and transportation

Core Concern:

Micronutrients, especially Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12, are vulnerable to degradation during prolonged storage. As a result:

• The effective shelf life of FRK and FR becomes shorter than expected.
• Nutrient loss compromises the intended public health outcomes.
• The fortification programme’s cost-effectiveness is weakened.

Policy Issues

1. Food Security vs Nutrition Security

India has achieved near self-sufficiency in foodgrain production.
However, malnutrition and anemia remain persistent.

Fortification attempts to shift focus from calorie security to nutrient security.

The suspension highlights:

• Implementation gaps.
• Need for better post-harvest management.
• Importance of supply chain redesign.

2. Storage Infrastructure Challenges

The problem reflects structural issues:

• Traditional silo and warehouse systems.
• Climate-sensitive degradation.
• Long procurement-to-distribution cycles.

Possible solutions:

• Shorter storage cycles.
• Improved climate-controlled silos.
• Just-in-time distribution.
• Decentralized procurement and milling.

3. Cost-Benefit Considerations

Fortification is considered cost-effective compared to:

• Supplementation programmes.
• Therapeutic interventions.
• Healthcare burden of anemia.

However, nutrient degradation reduces cost-effectiveness if benefits are not realised.

Way Forward

1. Strengthen Storage Mechanisms

• Modern silos.
• Humidity control systems.
• Enhanced monitoring of nutrient stability.

2. Scientific Shelf-Life Assessment

• Clear guidelines on maximum storage duration for fortified rice.
• Periodic nutrient testing.

3. Alternative Nutrition Strategies

• Diversified diets.
• Biofortified crops.
• Pulses and millets promotion.
• Targeted supplementation for high-risk groups.

4. Integrated Approach

Fortification should complement:

• POSHAN Abhiyaan.
• Anemia Mukt Bharat.
• Behavioural change campaigns.

Implication for the policy

The suspension does not necessarily indicate policy failure. Rather, it highlights:

• The complexity of implementing large-scale nutrition interventions.
• The need for convergence between agriculture, health, logistics, and technology.
• The importance of evidence-based mid-course corrections in governance.

Conclusion

The temporary discontinuation of fortified rice distribution under PMGKAY and other schemes underscores the implementation challenges of large-scale public health interventions.

While fortification remains a scientifically sound and cost-effective strategy to tackle micronutrient deficiencies, logistical realities, particularly storage and shelf-life limitations, must be addressed to ensure its effectiveness.

Ultimately, India’s fight against malnutrition requires not just policy ambition but institutional capacity, technological innovation, and adaptive governance.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. “Food security without nutrition security is incomplete.” Examine the context of India’s fortified rice programme and its recent suspension.