Hovosdon joint stock company of Syrdarya region started to produce fortified flour, Uzbekistan National News Agency, UzA, reported.

Habibulla Niyazmetov, chairman of Hovosdon, said the production is based on modern technologies and it will manufacture 800 tonnes of flour, fortified with iron and other elements, per month.

Uzbekistan is implementing National Flour Fortification Programme, which envisages to decrease anemia prevalence by 20% in five years and create corresponding infrastructure to fortify flour.

Uzbekistan is one of the first countries to benefit from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition’s (GAIN) flour fortification programme. Uzbekistan received US$2.8 million over a 3 year period for a national campaign to reduce serious health problems amongst women of child-bearing age and children, caused by iron deficiency.

The project implemented by the Ministry of Health, JSC Uzdonmahsulot (State bread and grain company), UNICEF and the World Bank (acting as agent of GAIN). It involves the support of the Ministry of Public Education, Association of Bread Producers "Toshkent non", other public organizations and foundations, and crucially, the Mass media.

The project will be implemented within five years and its total cost is US$6 million. The project will allow to create capacities on production of 1.9 million tonnes of fortified flour annually.

Within the framework of the project, the number of specially equipped flour mills will increase from 14 to 48. According to preliminary estimations this will enable up to 90% of the population at risk to be covered. The programme envisages to increase annual production of fortified flour from 100,000 tonnes in 2005 to 1.3 million tonnes in 2009.