The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) through R&D support to IIT Kharagpur has developed a technology on rice fortification with Iron for addressing the problem of anaemia.
The Iron fortified rice premix is produced through extrusion process using broken rice kernels. This premix resembles the normal rice kernel in shape and size and when mixed with normal rice in the ration of 1:100 provides 50 per cent of recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Iron. This technology can also be used to fortify rice with other micro nutrients as well.
According to the information given by Y.S. Chowdary, Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, “A Pilot Scale Unit with a capacity of 100 kg/hr/shift has been commissioned at IIT-Kharagpur. The technology is ready for demonstration and transfer to prospective entrepreneurs. The same can be commercialised. However, for introduction in the Government programmes such as Mid-day Meal Scheme & ICDS to address micro nutrient deficiencies in children, DBT would be willing to set up pilot scale production unit in States who would be interested. Accordingly, an MoU could be executed between DBT and the respective State Government Departments“.