Millers for Nutrition and KCP Nutrritious Advance Food Fortification Efforts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

Millers for Nutrition, powered by TechnoServe, in collaboration with KCP Nutrritious Pvt. Ltd., brought together leaders from the staple food industry, nutrition experts and food fortification stakeholders in Hyderabad to discuss opportunities to expand fortified rice in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The event, “Unlocking Market Potential: Advancing Fortified Rice in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” also marked the launch of KCP Nutri Poshan, a fortified rice range developed by KCP Nutrritious and enriched with eight essential micronutrients: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (Folate and folic acid), Vitamin B12, iron and zinc.

Available in three popular rice varieties—Kolam, HMT and Sona Masoori—KCP Nutri Poshan is designed to provide additional micronutrients through a staple food already consumed regularly by households across the two states.

The event forms part of Millers for Nutrition’s efforts to work with food businesses to strengthen fortification practices, improve product quality and expand the availability of fortified staple foods through commercial markets.

“Food fortification offers a practical and scalable pathway to improving nutrition outcomes because it builds on foods that people already consume every day,” said Monojit Indra, Senior Practice Leader, TechnoServe, and Program Leader, Millers for Nutrition Asia. “Through Millers for Nutrition, we are working with industry partners to strengthen fortification practices, improve product quality and expand access to fortified staple foods. The growing participation of food businesses in this effort demonstrates the increasing momentum behind nutrition-focused food systems.”

Building consumer access through everyday foods

Discussions at the event highlighted the role that fortified staple foods can play in addressing micronutrient deficiencies, while also underscoring the importance of consumer awareness and market availability in driving adoption.

While interest in healthier food choices is growing, awareness of micronutrient deficiencies and the role of food fortification remains an important area for further engagement. Stakeholders at the event highlighted the need for continued collaboration between food businesses, development organizations and other actors across the food system to strengthen consumer understanding and access to fortified products.

“At KCP Nutrritious, we believe nutrition should be easy, accessible and effortless,” said Sri Vaishnavi O, CEO, KCP Nutrritious Pvt. Ltd. “KCP Nutri Poshan has been developed to help families meet their everyday nutritional requirements without changing their eating habits, recipes or cooking methods. Our vision is to make fortified rice available on every plate and in every household while helping consumers make informed and healthier food choices.”

KCP Nutrritious plans to initially make KCP Nutri Poshan available across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana through traditional and modern retail, e-commerce and quick-commerce channels. The company also plans to undertake consumer education initiatives to build awareness of food fortification and the role of fortified staples in supporting better nutrition.

Abhishek Shukla, Country Program Manager, Millers for Nutrition India, TechnoServe, said, “Consumer awareness and market availability are essential for accelerating the adoption of fortified foods. Events like this provide an important platform for industry stakeholders to collaborate, exchange knowledge and drive greater access to nutritious staple foods. Expanding the availability of fortified staples in retail markets can play an important role in bridging nutrition gaps through everyday diets.”

The launch of KCP Nutri Poshan adds to the growing participation of food businesses in India’s fortified staples market. Through partnerships with millers, processors and food brands, Millers for Nutrition continues to support efforts to strengthen the fortification ecosystem and expand access to quality fortified foods.

The Hyderabad event concluded with a shared focus on strengthening industry collaboration, consumer awareness and market access as fortified staple foods continue to develop within India’s food system.