Role of fortified rice in India's nutritional strategy

India has made remarkable progress in addressing food insecurity, transitioning from severe food shortages to becoming a major food producer. The country now stands as a leading producer of cereals and for the first time in decades, the gross value added from fruits and vegetables has surpassed that of cereals, indicating a diversification in agricultural production. Additionally, India is the largest producer of milk and ranks among the biggest producers of poultry. These achievements, coupled with well-designed and implemented social safety net programs such as the National Food Security Act, which guarantees subsidised cereals to 67% of the population, have significantly reduced food insecurity. However, the focus has now shifted from simply ensuring food availability to improving the quality of the diet consumed.

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Poor diets lead to both undernutrition and overnutrition. India faces the 'double burden of malnutrition', where both undernutrition and over-nutrition coexist. This is further exacerbated by widespread micronutrient deficiencies, often referred to as 'hidden hunger,' which affect both undernourished and overweight or obese individuals. Achieving optimal nutrition requires addressing various factors such as access, affordability, and behaviour changes, ensuring that the population consumes a diverse and nutrient-rich diet. Micronutrients are essential vitamins and minerals (e.g., iron, iodine, vitamin A, and zinc etc) which are crucial for growth and development. Since the human body cannot produce most micronutrients, these must be obtained through the food we eat. Deficiency of these micronutrients, largely due to unbalanced diets, has become a global health issue, affecting nearly five billion people worldwide. In India, micronutrient deficiencies are a major public health concern - with high prevalence of anaemia among women and children being one example. Promoting a diverse, nutrient-rich diet is vital for overall health and well-being