Miller Magazine Issue: 151 July 2022

36 MILLER / JULY 2022 NEWS Representatives from the Government of Tajikistan, wheat flour mills and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) held a roundtable meeting in Guliston town, Sughd Region, to discuss the implementation of the national fortification law and hear from various stakeholders in wheat flour fortification in the country. The roundtable, which was conducted with the sup- port of WFP on 17 June, was the beginning of a series of discussions around food fortification issues, particularly wheat fortification. In May 2022, Tajik Wheat Flour Mill “Ordi Dushanbe” launched the country’s first wheat flour fortification using imported premix. Fortification is one of the most cost-effective means of combating micronutrient deficiencies, which remains a public health problem, particularly for women and chil- dren in Tajikistan. Malnutrition can lead to the develop- ment of diseases and chronic health conditions. “Food fortification is a sound investment that govern- ments can make to address malnutrition and improve food security and nutrition, which is one of the four stra- tegic goals in the Tajik Government’s National Devel- opment Strategy 2030,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan Adham Musallam. “WFP is committed to supporting food fortification through technical support to the Government to strength- en the health system and work with wheat flour mills and relevant ministries and departments to promote healthy diets,” he added. WFP is the only agency that brings fortified food, includ- ing fortified wheat flour and vegetable oil, to the country. Through national School Feeding Programme, 440,000 primary grade schoolchildren in 2,000 schools eat daily hot meals prepared with these nutritious ingredients. Prior to roundtable, WFP organized a field visit for the participants to wheat flour mills in Sughd Region to ob- serve wheat flour fortification in action. The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. WFP supports wheat flour fortification in Tajikistan