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Last modified on Tuesday, 10 May 2011 18:00

"Addressing Micronutrient Malnutrition in Bangladesh: A Case of Zinc Fortified Rice"

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11 May 2011, Dhaka. BRAC organised a workshop for agriculture specialists and experts to share ideas on introducing zinc fortified rice to help reduce micronutrient malnutrition on 11 may 2001 at the Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka.

Bangladesh suffers from micro nutrient deficiency resulting in health problems and even stunting in many cases.  BRAC has gone into partnership with Harvest Plus, an independent research organisation founded by the Consultative Group in International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and co convened by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) to develop and market zinc fortified rice to address the zinc deficiencies of poor households.


(from left) Dr. Md. Abdul Mannan - Director General of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Dr. Wais Kabir - Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Centre, Matia Chowdhury - Honourable Minister of Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Bangladesh, Dr. Mahabub Hossain - Executive Director of BRAC, Dr. Harrie Hendrickx - Head of Product Delivery of HarvestPlus

The zinc fortified rice is designed to provide zinc to poor people through rice, the main component of the diet of poor people. The eventual goal is to feed the ‘hidden hunger’, the problem of proper nutrition.

Matia Chowdhury MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture attended the workshop as chief guest and the event was chaired by Dr Mahabub Hossain, Executive Director, BRAC. Dr Wais Kabir, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council was also present as special guest.

Matia Chowdhury said, ‘We appreciate the invention of new varieties of rice which is the country’s staple crop’. She also said the government will provide full support f the rice is proved to be healthy, cost effective and beneficial for the farmers.

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