BIOFORTIFICATION
Fortification is the process of addition of micro-nutrients (vitamins & minerals ) which may or may not be naturally present in the food crop. The nutritional quality of food is enhanced either by adding the nutrients during processing of food products (conventional fortification) or adding it during the cultivation of the crop by agronomic practices ,conventional plant breeding , or modern biotechnology (scientific method) . When the nutrients are enhanced by practices during cultivation of crops , it is termed as Biofortification .
EXAMPLES OF BIOFORTIFICATION
SOURCES: www.iari.res.in ,www.who.int , www.icrisat.org , icar.org.in
Fortification is the process of addition of micro-nutrients (vitamins & minerals ) which may or may not be naturally present in the food crop. The nutritional quality of food is enhanced either by adding the nutrients during processing of food products (conventional fortification) or adding it during the cultivation of the crop by agronomic practices ,conventional plant breeding , or modern biotechnology (scientific method) . When the nutrients are enhanced by practices during cultivation of crops , it is termed as Biofortification .
EXAMPLES OF BIOFORTIFICATION
- Golden Rice ( genetically modified crop rich in Beta Carotene)
- High Iron& Zinc pearl millet variety Dhanashakti
- High Iron & Zinc sorghum developed by ICRISAT
- Rice (DRR Dhan 45) pure line variety rich in zinc
- Wheat (WB 02) pure line variety rich in zinc & iron
- Maize (Pusa Vivek QPM9) hybrid variety rich in lysine , tryptophan & provitamin A
- Lentil ( Pusa Ageti Masoor ) pure line variety rich in iron
- Madhuvan carrot is recently developed by selective cultivation by a Gujarat farmer. It is rich in beta carotene & iron content.
IMPORTANCE OF BIOFORTIFICATION
- fights malnutrition
- solution for hidden hunger
- nutritional security
- dependency on extra supplements is eliminated
- helps to accomplish SDG2 (zero hunger) & SDG3 ( good health & well being )
- Cost effective solution for poor
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR BIOFORTIFICATION IN INDIA
India has around 15.2% population undernourished . To tackle this situation biofortification of crops is a cost effective solution. India mainly focuses on biofortification of six crops i.e. rice , wheat , maize , pearl millet ,sorghum & small millet. Some of the government initiatives supporting biofortification are :
- National Nutritional Security ( NNS ) : Kuposhan Mukt Bharat launched in 2017.
- Organisation of Agri-Nutri Smart Village (agri- nutri education, institutional convergence , agri- nutri capacity building & nutri farming system
- Inclusion of biofortified crops in govt. sponsored schemes :
- rural transformation project of NITI Aayog
- National Food Security Mission
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
- Integrated Child Development Scheme
