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ADB project to fight nutrition problems

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will launch a pilot project that will help small village millers in Pakistan to fortify their flour to help reduce anaemia and folic acid deficiency in the country.

The project, supported by a US$1,997,500 grant from the ADB’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, financed by the government of Japan, will target about 100 chakki mills, or small-scale stone mills, in two low-income districts with a population of 150,000-175,000, stated an ADB statement issued on Thursday.

The World Health Organization has identified deficiencies of iron and folic acid as a severe problem in Pakistan that has devastating impacts on health and survival and high costs to national economic development.

About 40% of women, 65% of children and a substantial number of men suffer from anaemia. It is estimated that over 10 years, iron deficiency leads to 22,000 maternal deaths and more than $4.6 billion in lost productivity. Folic acid deficiency also causes an estimated 40,000 deaths from heart disease and birth defects.

“With over half the population of Pakistan consuming flour from chakkis in their neighbourhoods or villages, chakki flour fortification remains the best hope for relief from iron and folic acid deficiency,” says Axel Weber, an ADB Social Protection Specialist.

Small-scale chakkis, however, have little experience in fortification. The project will help chakki millers and related businesses fortify flour with dietary iron and folic acid, providing training, feeders, fortificants and a capital start-up allotment of $10,000.

The project will also improve the capacity of local governments to regulate, monitor and support chakki flour fortification. It will help create community support and consumer demand for fortified flour through a multi-sectoral marketing campaign. staff report

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