Hyderabad, June 29: Telangana is today the leading state in India in both rice production and rice procurement, announced N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Minister for Irrigation & Command Area Development and Food & Civil Supplies, Government of Telangana.
The Minister was speaking after unveiling KCP Nutri Poshan, a fortified rice range enriched with eight essential micronutrients—Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (Folate & Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Iron and Zinc. Available in popular rice varieties such as Kolam, HMT and Sona Masoori, the product has been developed to help consumers access enhanced nutrition through a staple food consumed daily across households in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Uttam Kumar Reddy was the Chief Guest at the workshop titled “Unlocking Market Potential: Advancing Fortified Rice in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh”, organised at The Park, Hyderabad.
The event was convened by Millers for Nutrition, powered by TechnoServe, in collaboration with KCP Nutrritious Pvt. Ltd.. It brought together rice millers, food industry leaders, nutrition experts, policymakers and food fortification stakeholders to discuss the growing role of fortified staple foods in addressing micronutrient deficiencies and improving public health outcomes.
Addressing the gathering, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Telangana produced nearly 300 lakh metric tonnes of rice during the Kharif and Rabi seasons combined, while the state’s annual consumption is only about 36 lakh metric tonnes.
“We consume barely one-tenth of the rice we produce. Therefore, exports represent the next major growth opportunity for Telangana’s rice industry. The State Government is seriously considering a dedicated policy to facilitate rice exports and support rice millers in accessing national and international markets. The policy is currently under preparation,” he said.
The Minister added that Telangana has already begun exporting rice to countries such as the Philippines and emphasized that the government remains fully supportive of the rice milling industry.
“Telangana has always stood by its rice millers, and we will continue to support them in expanding their markets and improving their business prospects,” he said.
Appreciating KCP Nutri Poshan and Millers for Nutrition, he noted that the launch marks one of the first fortified multi-vitamin rice offerings in the Telugu States.
“This is the need of the hour. These rice varieties are fortified with eight essential micronutrients while retaining the same taste and cooking characteristics as regular rice. Health should not be a chore or a pill—it should be on your plate. This innovative product has the potential to create significant social impact by addressing nutritional deficiencies through a food people already consume every day,” he remarked.
Speaking at the event, Monojit Indra, Senior Practice Leader, TechnoServe and Program Leader, Millers for Nutrition Asia, said: “Food fortification offers a practical and scalable pathway to improving nutrition outcomes because it builds on foods that people already consume every day. Through Millers for Nutrition, we are working with industry partners to strengthen fortification practices, improve product quality and expand access to fortified staple foods. The growing participation of food businesses demonstrates the increasing momentum behind nutrition-focused food systems.”
Globally, food fortification is recognised as one of the most effective and scalable public health interventions for addressing micronutrient deficiencies. In India, Millers for Nutrition has been working with industry stakeholders across multiple states to increase awareness, strengthen fortification practices and improve consumer access to fortified staple foods.
Srree Vaishnavvi O, CEO of KCP Nutrritious Pvt. Ltd., said: “At KCP Nutrritious, we believe nutrition should be easy, accessible and effortless. KCP Nutri Poshan has been developed to help families meet their daily nutritional requirements without changing their eating habits, recipes or cooking methods. Our vision is to make fortified rice available on every plate and in every household while empowering consumers to make healthier food choices.”
Abhishek Shukla, Country Program Manager, Millers for Nutrition India, TechnoServe, said: “Consumer awareness and market availability are critical to accelerating the adoption of fortified foods. Events such as these provide an important platform for stakeholders to collaborate, exchange knowledge and expand access to nutritious staple foods. Increasing the availability of fortified staples in retail markets can play a significant role in bridging nutrition gaps through everyday diets.”
KCP Nutrritious will initially focus on Telangana and Andhra Pradesh through traditional retail outlets, modern trade, e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms. The company also plans to undertake consumer awareness campaigns highlighting the benefits of food fortification and the role of fortified staples in improving nutritional outcomes.
Food fortification is not new and has been practiced globally for several decades. However, fortified rice is an emerging category with immense potential to improve nutritional security, particularly in rice-consuming regions such as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The launch was followed by expert-led knowledge-sharing sessions and a panel discussion featuring leading voices from the nutrition, food processing and public health sectors.