Expansion of food fortification

By 2030, the government of Tajikistan ensures that wheat flour of premium and first grades produced domestically is 100% fortified. This commitment involves enhancing the nutritional quality of staple foods by adding essential vitamins and minerals, which is crucial for combating malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. The government plans to implement and enforce regulations mandating the fortification of key food items such as wheat flour with vitamin B12, iron, zinc and folic acid and salt iodisation, ensuring that these fortified foods meet national standards for consistency and quality. The activities will also include the introduction of custom tax exemption of premix for wheat flour.

To achieve this goal, the government will focus on capacity-building by providing training for food producers and regulatory bodies on fortification processes and quality control. Additionally, investments will be made in the necessary infrastructure and technology to support large-scale fortification efforts. Public awareness campaigns will be launched to educate the population about the benefits of fortified foods, and community engagement initiatives will promote their consumption.

Monitoring and evaluation will play a critical role in this initiative. Systems like DHIS2 will be used to collect and analyse data on the coverage and impact of food fortification programs. Continuous feedback mechanisms will be established to ensure the ongoing improvement of these initiatives. The expected outcomes include a significant reduction in malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, better overall health outcomes, particularly for children and women of reproductive age, and enhanced productivity and economic growth due to a healthier population.