Enabling food and nutrition security

(GS Mains 2: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.)

Context:

India ranks 107 out of 121 countries on the Global Hunger Index in which it fares worse than all countries in South Asia {Sri Lanka (64), Nepal (81), Bangladesh (84), and Pakistan (99)} barring war-torn Afghanistan(109).

About Global Hunger Index:

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels.
The GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger, where zero is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst. India’s score of 29.1 places it in the ‘serious’ category.

Indicators of Index:

It is already known that GHI Countries are ranked on the basis of four indicators, these are-
Under nourishment – Inadequate availability of food in proportion to the population. Child Stunting- Short height for age ratio in children below 5 years of age. Child Wasting- low weight to height ratio in children below 5 years of age. Child Mortality Rate – Mortality rate of children below 5 years of age.

Global food crisis:

Globally, food and nutrition security continue to be undermined by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, spiralling food inflation, conflict, and inequality. Today, around 828 million people worldwide do not have enough to eat and over 50 million people are facing severe hunger.
The Hunger Hotspots Outlook (2022-23) report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) forebodes escalating hunger, as over 205 million people across 45 countries will need emergency food assistance to survive.

For peace and prosperity:

The experts reminded the globe to ensure that the most vulnerable people within our communities have easy access to safe and nutritious food as without food and nutrition security for all, there can be no peace and no prosperity.
Only through collective and transformational action to strengthen agri-food systems, through better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, can we meet our promise to end hunger by 2030.

India’s inspiring journey:

India has had an inspiring journey towards better production and achieving self-sufficiency and is now one of the largest agricultural product exporters in the world.
During 2021-22, the country recorded $49.6 billion in total agriculture exports — a 20% increase from 2020-21.
However, recent climate shocks and extreme weather phenomena, it is important to place a greater focus on climate adaptation and resilience building.

Population pressure and food security:

By 2030, India’s population is expected to rise to 1.5 billion, thus agri-food systems will need to provide for and sustainably support an increasing population.
In the current times, there is an increased recognition to move away from conventional input-intensive agriculture towards more inclusive, effective, and sustainable agri-food systems that would facilitate better production.
The Government of India’s scheme leads towards better production which includes Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, which promotes organic farming; Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, which focuses on more crops per drop for improved water use, and Soil Health Management which fosters Integrated Nutrient Management under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.
Further, 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).

Ensure sustainability:

Nutrition and agricultural production are not only impacted by climate change but also linked to environmental sustainability.
The degradation of soil by the excessive use of chemicals, non-judicious water use, and declining nutritional value of food products need urgent attention.
Thus, focussing on millets has received renewed attention as crops that are good for nutrition, health, and the planet.
Millets are climate-smart crops that are drought-resistant, growing in areas with low rain and infertile soil.
They are hardier than other cereals, more resilient to changes in climate, and require less water to cultivate (as much as 70% less than rice), and less energy to process (around 40% less than wheat).

Conclusion:

India can lead the global discourse on food and nutrition security by showcasing home-grown solutions and best practices, and championing the principle of leaving no one behind by working continuously to make its food system more equitable, empowering, and inclusive.