Iron fortified rice to be launched

The National Food Authority (NFA) will launch on March 15 its Iron Fortified Rice (IFR) program in a bid to address widespread micronutrient deficiency.

The nationwide simultaneous launching, including in Negros Occidental, aims to create public awareness on rice fortification and its nutritional benefits, considering that although the NFA has been selling IFR, "there is still the problem of acceptability on the part of the consuming public as most are hesitant to buy IFR and even wean the iron from the rice."

The NFA said rice fortification is the mixing of white milled rice with iron rice premix at a mixing ratio set by the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

"Rice is an excellent vehicle for fortification because Filipinos are basically rice-eating people. IFR, when cooked, tastes like ordinary rice except for the color that turns grayish, an indication of the presence of iron," it added.

Aside from the IFR program, NFA said it continuously conduct support services to farmers as part of the food sufficiency priority program of the government.

The implementation of irrigation system repairs, establishment of more post-harvest facilities and construction of farm-to-market roads have also been prioritized to prop up palay production to a target year-end level of 17.46 million tons.

"Funds have already been channeled to effective postharvest facilities to be implemented by our Agri-Pinoy program which will provide for the rehabilitation of old irrigation facilities as well as the construction of new ones while also establishing postharvest infrastructure such as drying and warehouse facilities," said President Benigno Aquino III during his visit to Negros Occidental last week. "Through this project, we expect to produce an additional 1.56 million metric tons of palay every year, significantly increasing our annual production."

Research, development and extension systems will likewise provide farmers and producers with technological information and advice that will respect their right to choose the system of production that suits them - from conventional to organic, in addition to the most modern, such as biotechnology, together with the indigenous and traditional systems. "The farmers need to be provided with more viable alternatives to better their lives."

(CGC)