TechnoServe trains journalists, nutrition officers on rice fortification to combat malnutrition in Kano
A non-profit organization focused on poverty alleviation, TechnoServe, on Tuesday, conducted a training session for media professionals and nutrition officers on rice fortification in Kano State.
Project Manager, Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria PRiFN, Mr Seun Elere, highlighted the crucial role of media in the initiative, explaining that they aim to use media platforms to raise awareness about the consumption of fortified rice.
SolaceBase reports that fortified rice is enriched rice with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, among others.
“Fortified rice is safe for consumption, and any type of rice can be fortified. We intend to promote it not just in urban areas, but also in rural communities, where people are more vulnerable to malnutrition,” Mr. Elere said.
He further explained that the initiative is leveraging the National Home-Grown School Feeding Program to ensure that primary school children and adolescents in boarding schools have access to fortified rice. “These groups are particularly vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies, according to statistics,” he added.
Mr. Elere emphasized, “We want rural communities to also have access to fortified rice, especially when it becomes available on a larger scale in the open market. For now, children benefiting from the school feeding program in Kano State will be among the first to access fortified rice. We see the media as partners in this effort, not just supporters.”
He also explained that rice consumption is widespread across all socio-cultural groups in Kano State, which influenced the federal government’s decision to mandate the fortification of rice with key nutrients, including iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12, along with other vitamins like B1, B3, and B6.
Speaking at the event, Ekene Onyeagba, a food fortification expert from the World Food Programme (WFP), noted that Kano State was selected for the program because it is one of Nigeria’s largest rice producers and has high rates of malnutrition.
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“We previously implemented this program in Kebbi State and are now bringing it to Kano to address the malnutrition crisis. The goal is to promote the production and distribution of fortified rice through Kano State’s school feeding program, ensuring that children have access to healthy, fortified meals,” Onyeagba said.
He added that the program involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Kano State government and key rice producers at all levels—small, medium, and large-scale.
The training brought together journalists from diverse media organizations, including radio, TV, print, and online platforms across Kano State.
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