India can lead the global discourse चर्चा या अध्ययन on food and nutrition security

Food day as a reminder to ‘leave no one behind’

17/10/2022

 

Globally, food and nutrition security 

1 continue to be undermined by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, spiralling food inflation, conflict, and inequality.

2  Today, around 828 million people worldwide do not have enough to eat,

3  and over 50 million people are facing severe hunger.

The Hunger Hotspots Outlook (2022-23) 1 — a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) — 

2 forebodes पूर्वाभास escalating तेज़ी आना hunger, as over 205 million people across 45 countries will need emergency food assistance to survive.

This year’s World Food Day (October 16) 

1 has been a reminder to ensure that the most vulnerable people within our communities have easy access to safe and nutritious food. 

2 The promise to end hunger by 2030 is possible only through collective and transformational action to strengthen agri-food systems; better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

Better production, better nutrition

1 India has had an inspiring journey towards better production and achieving self-sufficiency and is now one of the largest agricultural , exporters.

2  During 2021-22, it recorded $49.6 billion in total agriculture exports — a 20% increase from 2020-21. 

3 However, recent climate shocks have raised concerns about India’s wheat and rice production over the next year. 

4 Therefore, it is important to place a greater focus on climate adaptation and resilience building.

By 2030, India’s population is expected to rise to 1.5 billion. 

1 Agri-food systems will need to provide for and sustainably support an increasing population. 

2 There is increased recognition to move away from conventional input-intensive agriculture towards more inclusive, effective, and sustainable agri-food systems that would facilitate better production.

3  There have also been a series of initiatives by the Government of India on better production and improving food access, especially for vulnerable populations.

Since 1948, the FAO

has continued to play a catalytic role in India’s progress in the areas of crops, livestock, fisheries, food security, and management of natural resources through the promotion of sustainable practices.

World Food Day

1 is a reminder to ‘Leave No One Behind’, 

2 and is an opportunity —

3  perhaps the most urgent one in recent history —

4  for nations to strengthen food security nets, provide access to essential nutrition for millions and promote livelihood for vulnerable communities.

NFSA 2013

1 One of India’s greatest contributions to equity in food is its National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013

🌺 which anchors the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), 

🌺the PM POSHAN scheme (earlier known as the Mid-Day Meals scheme), 

🌺and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

 Today, India’s food safety nets collectively reach over a billion people. 

The WFP 

1 works with State and national governments to strengthen these systems to reach the people who need them most. 

2 The Government continues to take various measures to improve these programmes with digitisation and measures such as rice fortification, better health, and sanitation.

Food safety nets and inclusion 

1 are linked with public procurement and buffer stock policy — 

🌺visible during the global food crisis (2008-12) 

🌺and the COVID-19 pandemic fallout, 

🌺whereby vulnerable and marginalised families in India continued to be buffered by the TPDS which became a lifeline.

2  An International Monetary Fund paper titled ‘Pandemic, Poverty, and Inequality: Evidence from India’ asserted that ‘extreme poverty was maintained below 1% in 2020 due to the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

3  India’s upcoming G20 presidency is an opportunity to bring food and nutrition security to the very centre of a resilient and equitable future.

A better environment

1 Nutrition and agricultural production are not only impacted

🌺 by climate change but also linked to environmental sustainability.

🌺 Soil degradation by the excessive use of chemicals, 

🌺non-judicious water use, 

🌺and declining nutritional value of food products need urgent attention.

2 Millets have received renewed attention 

as crops that are good for nutrition, health, and the planet. 

🌺As climate-smart crops, they are hardier than other cereals. 

🌺Since they need fewer inputs, they are less extractive for the soil and can revive soil health

🌺 Additionally, their genetic diversity ensures that agrobiodiversity is preserved.

🌺India has led the global conversation on reviving millet production for better lives, nutrition, and the environment, 

🌺including at the UN General Assembly, where it appealed to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. 

🌺It is the world’s leading producer of millets, producing around 41% of total production in 2020.

🌺 The national government is also implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Millets) as part of the National Food Security Mission.

🌺 State-level missions in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh are a testament to India’s resolve to revive these indigenous crops.

🌺Millet conservation and promotion contribute to addressing food security, improved nutrition, and sustainable agriculture, which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda.

 🌺Millet production has been proven to enhance biodiversity and increase yields for smallholder farmers, including rural women.

 🌺The International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD’s) Tejaswini programme 

with Madhya Pradesh showed that growing millets meant a nearly 10 times increase in income (₹1,800 per month in 2013-14 to ₹16,277 in 2020-21),

 with better food security because millet crops were not impacted by excessive rainfall.

🌺 A study by the FAO on millets in India emphasises strengthening value chains for enhancing nutritional benefits and increasing farmers’ incomes.

A better life

1 It is clear that the path to a better life resides in transforming food systems, 

2making them more resilient and sustainable with a focus on equity, 

3 including by incentivising the protection of the commons;

4  enhancing food and nutrition security and social protection networks, 

5 including by providing non-distortionary income support;

6  promoting production and consumption of nutritious native foods such as millets, 

7 by investing in consumer sensitisation; 

8 investing in making the global and regional supply chain robust and responsive by strengthening transparency in the agricultural system through systems that promote labelling, traceability, etc.;

9  and increasing cooperation for leveraging solutions and innovations.

10  India can lead the global discourse चर्चा या अध्ययन on food and nutrition security 

 by showcasing home-grown solutions and best practices,

 and championing the principle of leaving no one behind 

— working continuously to make its food system more equitable, empowering, and inclusive.

Source the hindu