Parliament Question: Procurement of fortified rice and Canadian lentil and peas

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2762 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17TH MARCH, 2026 PROCUREMENT OF FORTIFIED RICE AND CANADIAN LENTIL AND PEAS 2762 SHRI R. GIRIRAJAN: Will the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution be pleased to state (a): whether Government is procuring fortified rice and Canadian lentil and peas for public distribution to different types of ration card holders in the country, if so, the details thereof; (b): the quantity and rate in INR per kg of fortified Rice purchased during the last five years, State/UT-wise; (c) : the rationale behind making fortified Rice mandatory in public distribution schemes despite concerns raised by health experts and activists; and (d): whether potential harmful effect from intake of Iron-fortified Rice include Sickle Cell Anaemia, Thalassemia and Neural disorders, if so, the details thereoP ANSWER M[NISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a): The Government procures fortified rice, wheat and coarse grains for distribution under Public Distribution System (PDS). (b): The purchase cost of fortified Rice includes the economic cost of rice and the cost of fortification of rice. As per the Provisional Cost Sheet (PCS), the economic cost of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) allowed, State-wise for the last five years is at Annexure-I. In addition, there is cost of fortification of rice which should not be more than Rs. 0.73 per kilogram. The quantity of fortified rice procured for the central pool during the last five years and the current marketing season, state-wise is at Annexure-II. (c): Fortification is a globally recognized practice and India follows guidelines aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO’s 2018 recommendations, rice fortification with iron is recommended in countries where rice is a staple food. In India, with 65% of its population consuming rice daily, iron-fortified rice is particularly relevant and was incorporated as a complementary strategy to other efforts in Anaemia Mukt Bharat Initiative.(d): As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), there is no clear evidence to suggest that consumption of iron-fortified rice causes sickle cell disease, thalassemia or neural disorders. Sickle cell disease and thalassemia are inherited genetic blood disorders and are not caused by dietary intake of iron or iron-fortified foods. Some concerns have been raised regarding iron intake among individuals with such haemoglobinopathies, where iron metabolism may be altered. However, available scientific evidence does not indicate adverse health outcomes associated with the consumption of iron-fortified foods among individuals with these conditions. Iron overload observed in patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia is primarily due to repeated blood transfusions rather than intake of fortified rice. ###88ANNEXURE -I Economic Cost of Custom Milled Rice for the last five years, State-wise KMS KMS KIVIS KMS KMS State 2021 -22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 A.P 35.05 35.74 38.62 38.62 42.69 Bihar 35. 19 36.26 38.50 38.50 42.29 Chhattisgarh 35.80 36.56 36.77 36.77 42.97 Gujarat 33. 15 34.45 36.62 36.62 41.01 Haryana 33.02 34.70 36.65 36.65 40.42 Maharashtra 34.52 35.02 36.91 36.91 41.12 MP 34.64 33.91 38.59 38.59 42.20 Odisha 35.46 36.51 38.88 38.88 42.63 Punjab 34.14 35. 10 36.81 36.81 40.21 Tamil Nadu 33.46 35.94 38.51 40.86 42.61 Telangana 35.15 35.56 37.42 37.42 42.45 Uttar Pradesh 32.37 34.02 36. 74 36.74 39.55 Uttarakhand 35.44 36.09 37.57 40.75 42.37 West Bengal 34.77 35.01 m8 38.00 41.43 # The aforesaid economic cost is exclusive of cost of fortification of riceAnnexure-II Statement showing Fortified Rice Received for the last 5 years. Fig. in LMT, As on 12.03.2026 STATE/U.T. KMS KIVIS KMS 2022- KMS KIVIS KIVIS 2025- 2020-21 2021-22 23 2023-24 2024-25+ 268 ANDHRA PRADESH 17.52 25.73 28.31 35.79 7.28 TELANGANA 7.55 40.40 60.25 57.51 55.81 8.74 ASSAIVI 4.00 2.66 5.74 0.57 BIHAR 28.45 20.89 26.70 7.42 CHANDIGARH 0.10 0.05 0.18 CHHATTISGARH 1.02 3.81 14.24 20.16 20.12 0.47 GUJARAT 1.21 0.55 0.23 HARYANA 39.90 39.55 35.97 13.77 HIIVIACHAL PR. 0.07 0.14 0.25 0.14 JHARKHAND 1.10 0.49 1.41 0.33 J&K 0.23 0.02 0.02 0.03 KARNATAKA 0.12 0.00 0.003 0.00 KERALA 4.79 2.48 2.85 0.00 IVIADHYA PR. 3.32 29.85 27.53 27.68 0.70 MAHARASHTRA 11.93 7.38 8.99 0.00 ODISHA 0.33 8.54 21.88 22.58 21.66 0.00 PUDUCHERRY 0.00 0.00 0.001 0.00 PUNJAB 49.64 94.56 121.42 102.05 29.47 41.80 NEF (Tripura) 0.31 0.22 0.25 0.00 TAMILNADU 10.33 23.21 31.78 6.42 UTTAR PR. 5.52 43.65 36.21 39.01 30.23 UTTRAKH AND 5.94 4.83 4.55 0.84 WEST BENGAL 21.80 16.92 20.18 5.79 RA,IASTHAN 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 TOTAL 58.55 173.66 447.30 41 3.73 368,64 124.54 *KMS 2024-25 & KMS 2025-26 are under progress.