Sambalpur: In a major development, production of vitamin-laced rice has started in Sambalpur. The rice enriched with minerals and vitamins is aimed at addressing the problem of anaemia and micro-nutrients deficiency among people.
According to reports, IP Rice Industries at Mundoghat in Sambalpur and Lalita Rice Mill in Sonepur had got approval of the state government for production of this rice, which was started from Wednesday.
Now, these mills have got approval for sales of this rice in the market. Following a directive from the government, the vitamin-laced rice will be supplied to consumers under PDS.
The civil supplies department had earlier issued a letter to the district civil supplies officer May 13, 2021 to extend cooperation to the private mill in setting up the rice plant at Mundoghat. The mill owner has been asked to complete the work in three months.
This plant is capable of producing 500 kg of fortified rice per hour. Under this process, common rice or broken rice is pulverised while Vitamin A, B, C, zinc and minerals are laced with the pulverised rice.
The fortified rice will be sold in the market for Rs 60 a kg. As per provision, these two mills will provide fortified rice to other mills in the state. These mills will admix the fortified rice with their own rice and supply it to market and to the government under PDS.
100 gm of fortified rice will be added with one kg of common rice. The two rice mills have been set up with the technology from Italy. The produced rice will be packaged and supplied to all mills. This effort is to deal with anaemia and malnutrition among people.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the much-awaited fortification of rice and its distribution scheme through public distribution system (PDS) in Malkangiri. The fortified rice is to be distributed through the PDS on a pilot basis.
It may be noted here that the NITI Aayog has identified 15 districts across the country including the tribal-dominated Malkangiri to implement the scheme for distribution of fortified rice.
The FCI had been asked to tie up with rice mills in different regions for necessary investments in this regard. The FCI helps in successful scaling up of procurement and supply of fortified rice in a phased manner.
PNN