The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTC) has sold around 69,500 quintals of rice fortified with eight essential nutrients as of mid-March in the current fiscal year.
FMTC produced 104,785 quintals of vitamin-enriched fortified rice and sold 69,640 quintals worth Rs 58.15 million from mid-July to mid-March. The company established its mill in Kathmandu last September and began selling fortified rice in mid-December. It started distributing the rice in underprivileged districts of Karnali Province in March 2023. In addition to Kathmandu, FMTC operates mills in Surkhet, Janakpur, and Rajapur.
This initiative aims to combat malnutrition and anemia, particularly among children, by addressing deficiencies of essential nutrients. The fortified rice contains iron, zinc, vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B12, thiamine, niacin, and pyridoxine—key nutrients necessary for physical and mental well-being. Currently, the company is fortifying Aruwa Sona Mansuli and Steam Jeera Masino rice varieties.
According to FMTC, the nutritional composition of fortified rice includes between 39 and 72 mg of iron, 32 to 59 mg of zinc, 0.89 to 2.21 mg of vitamin A, 0.24 to 0.59 mg of folic acid, 0.007 to 0.002 mg of vitamin B12, 2.3 to 5.6 mg of thiamine, 20.5 to 50.7 mg of niacin, and 1.9 to 4.8 mg of pyridoxine.
FMTC spokesperson Sharmila Subedi stated that fortified rice is being sold in Kathmandu and Karnali Province, including Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Jumla, and Dolpa. She added that efforts are underway to introduce it as a mid-day meal in government schools in the Kathmandu Valley.
"In the initial phase, we have reached agreements with three schools in Kathmandu, and we plan to gradually expand the program to other schools," she said.
Previously, FMTC announced plans to introduce fortified rice in school lunch programs across all 753 municipalities. However, progress has been minimal so far.
In September, Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Damodar Bhandari inaugurated FMTC's rice fortification plant at its Thapathali office. With support from the World Food Programme, the company installed machinery to enhance the nutritional content of rice at its facilities in Surkhet, Janakpur, Rajapur (Bardiya), and Thapathali (Kathmandu), where production and sales are ongoing.
