BY SHAMIRA SHAMSUDDIN
THE long wait for the realease of Golden rice in Bangladesh is almost over. The new variety of rice enriched with Vitamin A will be available in Bangladesh soon, said Bangladesh Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak.
According to Dailystar.net, [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] Dhaka-based news portal,Abdur Razzak was talking to reporters after a meeting with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) at the secretariat recently.
“Golden rice is more important than other varieties as it will help fight Vitamin A deficiency. The rice variety has already got clearance in USA, Canada and Australia,” he was quoted saying.
According to the World Health Organisation’s global Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) database, one in every five pre-school children in Bangladesh is vitamin A-deficient.
Among the pregnant women, 23.7 percent suffer from VAD. “A committee of the environment ministry will give clearance to the rice for production.
“We will be able to start cultivation in Bangladesh within two to three months upon getting the clearance,” he said. [/ihc-hide-content]
