Adrian Dubock of the Golden Rice Humanitarian Board laid out the steps on
how people can organize themselves for the adoption of Golden Rice, a beta
carotene-enriched
[www.isaaa.org] rice
variety developed to address Vitamin A deficiency.

The first step, according to Dubock, is to organize people for public
meetings to coordinate activities for improved health and welfare through
Golden Rice adoption. The different levels of the government must take their
roles in this task, with the help of nongovernmental organizations and the
private sector.

When Golden Rice becomes available in the market, the seeds cannot be made
available to all farmers in the country at the same time. Thus, it is
important to identify areas with highest incidences of Vitamin A deficiency
which must be prioritized to be supplied first.

The next step is to conduct social marketing of Golden Rice to different
stakeholders. Farmers must be informed about the benefits of the variety in
alleviating hunger and malnutrition, and that their profit will not be
adversely affected when they sell Golden Rice. Consumers should be
encouraged to buy and consume Golden Rice because of its nutritional
benefits that cannot be gained from conventional white rice.

Lastly, the impact of Golden Rice adoption must be measured through dietary
records using careful experimental design and conduct. Results must be
published in peer-reviewed scientific journal so other countries can learn
from the experience.

[agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com]
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