Rice fortification

The embassy finances a 'rice fortification' project by the World Food Programme (WFP). So the food security advisor and I went on a field visit to see it in practice.

The idea is that the poorest people of the region are selected and given training over a two year period. During this period they are given a bag of rice per month to feed them and their family. Bangladesh is a rice eating country. Most meals include or consists of rice. The poorest hardly eat anything other than rice.
The training is in nutrition and income generating activities. For example how to grow your own vegetable garden, or how to fatten up a cow. A small cow can be bought for about 300 euro and after 4-5 months sold for double. These are big amounts. A rickshaw costs 300 euro and can earn you 3-4 euro a day.
The rice that is handed out is enriched with kernels, these kernels are full of vitamins and minerals such as zinc and useful stuff (can you tell I am an expert?). The kernels are made to look like rice so it doesn't look weird. The kernels are imported at the moment as this is still a pilot. The idea is that in a later stage the raw materials are imported and kernels are made locally, that will considerably cut the costs. By the way the Dutch company DSM is involved, they know how to make kernels, did extensive research in the right mix and supply the materials.

Feeding the rice in the mixer

Rice is fed to the mixer through 2 tanks

This machine drops the kernels in the stream of rice. 1 kernel to 100 grains of rice.

The small box with the wheel under it is the mixer.

Two big tanks on the right for rice, smaller one for the kernels left of centre, transportation belt left, and mixer left top

Samples are taken number of kernels should be between 1:85 and 1:125, normally it is very close to 1:100

The mix is bagged, for now still in plastic bags, but in future hopefully in jute bags (cheaper and environmental friendlier.)

Weighing and adjusting

Sewing up

Stock of unfortified rice

Kernels

Kernels, hard to tell apart from rice, slightly more shiny

Jute

A village where they hand out the rice

The women get a 'rice passport'

Visit to a village that profited from an earlier project.

How to make puffed rice:

Heat on pot of sand and a smaller put of dry rice

Keep stirring

add the rice to the sand and the rice will pop

Put the mixture in the sieve

See the sand come out the bottom

Her husband bought a (electrical) rickshaw

 

Her bull, trust me it is clearly not a cow, but a bull

Making bowls, for example for feeding cows.

Anther proud cow owner

A guava is plucked for us (didn't tell them I don't like guavas)

Rickshaw man and rice/cow woman proudly showing their wealth.

Many lovely people to take pictures of

I had some questions about sustainability and how they will bring the fortified rice to the market. However this looks like a good pilot and their are good dedicated people working on it, including government. I hope the message comes across that an investment can be really worth your while and boost the local economy.