It’s not exactly rice, so what is it?

PIURA REGION, Peru – More than 80 thousand students recipient of Qali Warma (from Quechuan, Strong Child) complementary feeding programme started to consume a type of fortified rice that promises to face the anemia, to improve the organism’s function, to reconstitute bones and tissues, and to strengthen the immunologic system. The food will be in breakfasts and lunches provided by the initiative. The fortified product is made from the rice flour what is added with eight vitamins, iron, and zinc. From the formed mass, simil grains are made.

Qali Warma and its promotional organism, the Peru’s Ministry of Social Development and Inclusion, released no more medical and scientific information about the fortified rice. However, it reported  113 tons were delivered in 865 schools  in Amotape, Castilla, Catacaos, Colán, Cura Mori, El Arenal, Ignacio Escudero, La Arena, La Huaca, La Unión, Lancones, Las Lomas, Piura, Sechura, Tamarindo, Tambogrande,  and  Vichayal Districts, all in Piura’s coastal zone.

Piura Territorial Unit’s Chief Sandra Castillo Abarca eexplained that the rice fortification with multiple mycro-nutrients is an effective strategy to increase the ingestion of essential vitamins  and minerals in students population, for they to be much awake during the classes, improving their learning. The grain is fundamental in a big part of the Peruvian meals, despite nutritionists have warned its proteic contribution, in its natural form, is little, and it rather contains much carbohydrates,.

Qali Warma delivers  other iron-riched products as grated of blood, liver, and chicken gizzard, fish, beef, pork, turkey, and chicken, which provide proteins and minerals to the students. Also, flours of maca, bean, cañihua, purple corn, dry potato, among others, those have allowed to diversify the menu at schools.

Photo provided by MIDIS.