WFP pilot study on community level fortification mills

A pilot study to investigate the feasibility of expanding small-scale milling operations is being supported by WFP in Bangladesh. Three 'fail-proof' milling (fortification) units will support the WFP Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) programme in Bangladesh. WFP will be able to provide the VGD beneficiaries with fortified atta (whole wheat flour) instead of wheat grain using this technology. Partner NGOs will manage the mills and women in the VGD programme will be employed in the production process. The micronutrient premix will contain vitamin A, iron, folate and B-vitamins.

This equipment is said to be a breakthrough in community-level fortification efforts as it features a device, which determines that fortification is safely applied, preventing excess fortification. Negligence or mistakes can only lead to a worst case scenario of under-fortification. The device is entirely mechanical and costs in the order of US$ 4000 for a mixing capacity of 1 MT/hr¹. This is the first time that WFP will use this process.

This device should make it possible to introduce fortification on a wider scale in small-scale milling operations in refugee and emergency programmes. Until now safe fortification has been difficult and expensive.

WFP hope shortly to publish the results of this experience.

For further information contact Pieter.Dijkhuizen@wfp.org

¹MT/hr : metric ton per hour