Related Topic in KAS Prelims Syllabus:
Economy and Planning [Paper-II]: Agriculture Sector, Technological change in Agriculture, Issues in Food Security
News
- Bangladesh is on the verge of becoming the first country to approve plantation of Golden Rice.
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and its partners, the Philippines Rice Research Institute and the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, have recently successfully cultivated Golden Rice in a controlled environment on IRRI campus.
About Golden Rice
- It is a variety of rice (Oryza sativa) produced through genetic engineering to biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible parts of rice.
- Beta-carotene is the reason for golden colour of the rice.
- It is intended to produce a fortified food to be grown and consumed in areas with a shortage of dietary vitamin A.
- Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of blindness among children and can also lead to death due to infectious diseases such as measles.
- There is no change in cost of cultivation of golden rice and it reduces water use by up to 30 per cent without any yield loss.
- It will not be more expensive than the conventional variety.
Why Golden Rice is needed in Bangladesh?
- A recent research has indicated that one cup of Golden Rice can provide up to 50 per cent of the daily requirement of an adult for vitamin A.
- In Bangladesh, over 21 per cent of the children have Vitamin A deficiency.
- Golden Rice is expected to provide required nutrients to make a difference to the public health.
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