Zinc deficiency prevalent among women, children

Staff Reporter :
The country’s 32.5 per cent of children aged between 6.0 months and 59 months and 45.40 per cent of women have zinc deficiency, according to a study.
The study carried out by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) has also emphasized on popularizing Zink enriched rice to face the deficiency.
The study was revealed at a roundtable titled ‘Opportunity of Reducing Malnutrition through Extension of Biofortified Zinc Rice in Bangladesh’ at a city hotel on Sunday.
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) jointly with Empiric Research Limited organized the programme with participation of biofortified zinc rice value chain actors of the country.
Speaking at the discussion, Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said, “Such deficiency has been affecting growth, immune system and many other aspects of child health. Zinc and other nutrition demand should be met to build a creative, studious and hardworking nation.”
“Nutrition enriched rice is being popularized by the government to prevent malnutrition. Balance nutrition enriched safe food is
one of the important parts of our election manifesto and we are bound to ensure these for the people,” he added.
Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter said, “People consume rice grain a lot. So if we could give people zinc through rice, it would be very easy and economically viable to provide the nutrition item.”
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General Dr Shahjajan Kabir said government organizations have developed seven zinc and iron enriched rice.
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) Chairman Md Abdullah Sazzad, said the Corporation has targeted to capture 30 per cent of rice land for cultivating zinc fortified rice.
Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) Dr Mirza Mofazzal Islam said BINA dhan 27 contains above 27 ppm of zinc and it is being popularised
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) director general Badol Chandra Biswas informed that 0.2 million hectares could be brought under zink rice so far in the country which was 73,000 hectares few years back.
Dr. FH Ansarey, President ACI Agribusiness, said zinc or other nutrient enriched rice varieties should be consumers and farmers’ friendly to make them popular.
Shahanuare Shaid Shahin Secretary General of Bangladesh Agricultural Journalist Forum (BAJF) and Golam Iftekhar Mahmud of President, BAJF, Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Dr Rudaba Khondker, Country Director, GAIN and Dr Ashek Mahfuz, Portfolio Lead, GAIN, also spoke among others.