The Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC), a government-owned entity, has initiated the sale of rice enriched with eight different nutrients to address health issues like malnutrition and anaemia, particularly among children.
Rice is the staple food in Nepal.
The initiative was launched last Thursday during the inauguration of FMTC's new plant in Thapathali, Kathmandu.
The FMTC, with the support from the World Food Program, has installed the necessary equipment to upgrade the nutritional content of rice in its plants in Surkhet, Janakpur, Rajapur, and Thapathali.
Sharmila Subedi, information officer of FMTC, said that the company has already started selling such rice in the Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Jumla, and Dolpa districts of Karnali Province, where cases of malnutrition and anaemia are rampant in comparison to other parts of the country.
“The rice is mixed with iron, zinc, vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B12, thiamine, niacin and pyridoxine among other essential nutrients,” said Subedi. “While nutritional content can be enhanced in all types of rice, the company has begun with the Steamed Jeera Masino variety.”
Such rice will be dearer by Rs 2 to Rs 5 per kg, in comparison to the normal variety.
According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022, people in Karnali, Madhesh, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim provinces have reported the lowest levels of micronutrient intake.
The report says that 34 percent of reproductive-age women, 43 percent of children under five years old, and 39 percent of adolescents in the country suffer from anaemia. Additionally, nutrient deficiencies have affected the growth and development of 25 percent of children in Nepal.
Countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, the United States, Costa Rica and India have already initiated the production and distribution of micronutrient-fortified rice.
The government also intends to use such rice for the mid-day meal programme in community schools.
Efforts are underway to make the nutritionally enriched rice variety available in all 753 local levels in the next few months, Subedi added.