"GOLDEN RICE" TO CHANGE NUTRITION STATUS OF POOR COUNTRIES: IRRI
September 12, 2003
Agence France Presse
DHAKA - The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was cited as saying
here Friday that nutrition in poor countries would improve once a new
variety of rice called "Golden Rice" became marketable.
Duncan Macintosh, a spokesperson for the Manila-based IRRI, was quoted as
teling AFP in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka that, "The Golden Rice has
Vitamin A added to it and millions of people in countries like Bangladesh
are affected due to lack of Vitamin A,".
Macintosh was further cited as saying that research was already underway in
India on this rice variety, and work would start soon in Bangladesh, as well
as in some South East Asian countries, with its marketing getting underway
soon after, adding, "Next year, which has been declared by the United
Nations as the International Year of Rice, will see significant changes in
the rice industry with the introduction of new varieties having more
nutrient factors."
Ronald P. Cantrell, IRRI's director general, was quoted as saying, "Without
doubt, Bangladesh has been one of the great success stories in using science
and technology to fight famine. The most important lesson from such an
impressive result is that governments must focus on rice production and
research if they expect to achieve improvements in their national
situations."