Karnataka: Scheme of rice fortresses in Koppal to overcome malnutrition, anemia

Koppal: In an effort to overcome the lack of nutrition and anemia faced by women and children in the backward area in the North Karnataka region, the state government has launched a rice fortress project on the Odisha model with two villages in Koppal District.
District administration has launched a pilot project in collaboration with Rizmaq companies in accordance with the direction of the state government in two villages-sangapur and Mukumpi from Gangavati Taluk.
Experts from Rizmaq work with district administration to improve the health conditions of children who lack nutrition, men and women in the villages.
Fortified rice, which contains iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and folic acid will be mixed with regular rice that is included through PDS and rice supplied for daytime schemes and Handiwandi centers.
Sameer Ahmed, the founder of Rizmaq, told TII that they had achieved great success in the fortification of the rice project in the Gajapti district in Odisha.
“Before launching our project, 68% of people in Gajapti suffered from anemia problems and iron deficiencies.
Our five-year joint efforts helped drop the number of people who suffered anemia up to 34%,” he added.
“In Karnataka, we have chosen Koppal Regency because it was declared one of the worst districts in terms of malnutrition.
We have chosen Sangapur and Mukumpi villages for our pilot project.
We plan to work here for 3-6 months.
Now, 58 % suffered anemia in these two villages, “he said.
“We will combine rice enriched to regular rice supplied through PDS, and also serves rice in the hands of Angganwadi and also to children borne in the midday eating scheme.
In this way, all men and women, including pregnant women Will be served with regular rice mixed with enriched rice, “he said.
“Rice enriched is science combining essential micro nutrients with rice flour and extruding the rice kernel from the combination.
It helps increase iron and nutrients among people who consume it every day.
We combine one kg of rice enriched with 99 kg of regular rice .
We visit every home and create awareness about how these mixed rice helps improve their health, “he said.
Koppal Deputy Commissioner Suralkar Vikas Kishore said that Rizmac applied this project experimentally.
“After three months, our health experts will conduct a comparative study to find out the results of consuming rice that is enriched and then we will submit a report to the state government.
Depending on the results, we will decide to deliver it to other parts of the district,” he added.