Global malnutrition and cereal fortification, chapt. 8 : case study, Tunisia

BENEFITS. THIS METHODOLOGY, APPLIED TO TUNISIA, SHOWS THAT INTERVENTION THROUGH THE SMALL LOCAL MILLS IN TUNISIA IS A FEASIBLE MEANS OF FORTIFYING WHEAT. THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM IS THE HIGH COST OF SUCH A PROGRAM, AND FUNDS WOULD NEED TO BE PROVIDED BY BILATERAL AND MULTI-LATERAL DONORS AS WELL AS THE TUNISIAN GOVERNMENT. SUCH FUNDING WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE INITIAL CAPITAL COSTS AND A MAJOR PORTION OF THE ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS OVER AN EXTENDED TIME. RECENT DRAMATIC INCREASES IN THE PRICE OF FORTIFICANTS, MAINLY LYSINE, AND THE LACK OF CONTROL OVER PRICES, MEANS THAT PROGRAM COSTS MIGHT BE MUCH HIGHER THAN ESTIMATED. IF ONLY MICRO-NUTRIENT FORTIFICATION IS UNDERTAKEN, THE PRICE IMPACT WOULD NOT BE AS SERIOUS.