January 11: The state-owned Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL) has started the manufacturing and supplies of 'fortified rice' starting from Wednesday, January 10.    
While launching the distribution of the rice on Wednesday, Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Ramesh Rijal said the entire Nepali citizens will have access to the rice enriched with nutritional values. This initiative aims to realise the sustainable development goals- 2030 by addressing the issue of malnutrition in the country, according to the minister.    
Minister Rijal said adding nutritional values to food and the giving priority to the locally available foods are the main concerns of the government in view of the implementing the fundamental rights of the citizens guaranteed by Article 36 of the constitution.

The Ministry of Health and Population is peaparing to promote public awareness on the benefits from the consumption of the 'fortified rice'. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies shall come up with policy arrangements for the manufacturing and supplies of this rice. It will be made available at a subsidized price.    
Similarly, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control will handle the criteria for rice production and the regulation of food purity and quality. The government will have technical support from the World Food Programme for the manufacturing and supplies of rice with increased nutritional values.    
It is worth noting that despite improvements in the status of nutrition in Nepal lately, the rate of malnutrition caused by the deficiency of micronutrients still remains high. According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022, 43% of children under the age of five still suffer from anaemia.    
Similarly, the survey shows that 34% of women of reproductive age and 39% of adolescent girls are affected by severe anaemic health complications. The study highlights that 25% of children under the age of five experience stunted growth and 19% have low weight issues. Deficiencies of essential micronutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid are prevalent among the population of various age groups. Nepal has expressed commitments to minimizing all forms of malnutrition to achieve the SDGs by 2030. -- RSS