India: FCI likely to join hands with rice mills to boost supply of fortified rice

Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been advised by the federal government to tie up with rice mills in different regions in order to boost supply of fortified rice through ration shops and other welfare schemes.

According to the country’s Food Ministry, there is a need to scale up the supply of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK), adding the corporation’s operational readiness will help in successfully accelerating procurement and supply of fortified rice in a phased manner from next year onwards.

Food Minister Piyush Goyal reviewed the scheme two times recently and directed the statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, to come with a comprehensive plan for distribution of fortified rice under the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) and MDM (Mid-day Meal) scheme.