At 206 kg per person per year, the country’s per capita rice consumption is among the highest in the world (United States Department of Agriculture 2020) and rice is therefore an appropriate vehicle for food fortification to reduce the incidence of MNDs. WFP is currently conducting acceptability studies for fortified rice in government social protection programmes.
The WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger is a global hub for knowledge exchange, capacity development and technical assistance to assist countries achieve zero hunger while it supports national ownership of programmes that guarantee sustainability of actions.
Over the years, Pakistan has become a food surplus country and a major producer of wheat which it distributes to needy populations through various mechanisms, including the World Food Programme (WFP).
The virus can have a devastating effect on small bodies already weak from poor nutrition. At the same time, the pandemic is having a ruinous effect on vulnerable families relying on a daily wage or a remittance.