A Food-Sufficient India Must Become Hunger-Free

Context:
India needs a transformation in its agri-food system to ensure healthy diets are affordable and accessible for all.

 

Introduction

• Global Goal: Ending hunger and malnutrition is a 2030 Sustainable Development Goal, hindered by conflicts, climate extremes, and economic slowdown.
• Food sufficiency vs. hunger: Achieving food sufficiency is a pre-requisite to address hunger but ensuring access and affordability of balanced, nutritious food is essential.
• Need for transformation: India must shift from just being hunger-free to providing affordable, healthy diets across all population segments.

 

Rising Hunger and Lack of Purchasing Capacity

• Global Hunger: 9.4% of the global population (757 million people) were undernourished in 2023.
  • By region: Africa (20.4%), Asia (8.1%), Latin America and Caribbean (6.2%), Oceania (7.3%).
  • In real terms: Asia has the highest number of undernourished people (384.5 million), followed by Africa (298.4 million).
  • Future Trends: By 2030, half of the world’s undernourished are projected to be in Africa.
• Rural and gender bias: Hunger is more prevalent in rural areas, and women are more affected than men.

 

Food Insecurity and Affordability

• Affordability challenges: The cost of a healthy diet (CoHD) rose to $3.96 PPP per person per day globally in 2022, with Asia at $4.20.
• Global trends: 2.83 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2022, with low-income countries facing severe access issues.
• India’s situation (2011 data): 63.3% of the rural population (527.4 million) couldn’t afford the required diet, indicating little improvement in food security.

 

Unhealthy Diets and Dietary Habits in India

• Nutritional imbalance: Indian diets are not in line with the EAT-Lancet reference or ICMR recommendations.
• Affordability issues: Healthy diets cost 60% of daily per capita income in South Asia, making them inaccessible to low-income populations.
• Wealthy households: Even the richest 5% consume less protein-rich food, reflecting issues beyond affordability, such as lack of awareness and availability.

 

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) Controversy

• India’s poor GHI ranking: While GHI rankings remain controversial, it does highlight malnutrition and early age mortality.
• National surveys: NSSO data reveals 3.2% of the Indian population do not have 60 meals a month, with 2.5% falling short of two meals a day, affecting 3.5 crore people.

 

Solutions to Hunger and Malnutrition

• Key solution: Regulating food prices and reducing food expenditure to make healthy diets affordable.
• Food waste management: Setting up food banks and discouraging food waste can ensure surplus food reaches the needy.
• Thalinomics in India: Rising affordability of a balanced, nutritionally compliant meal is essential for tackling malnutrition and hunger.

 

Conclusion

India, while food-sufficient, must also be hunger-free by ensuring universal access to affordable, healthy diets. Food banks, redistribution, and anti-food waste efforts can help ensure no one goes hungry. Addressing the structural issues of food availability, affordability, and awareness will be key to achieving this transformation.

 

 

 

 

Equitable Agrifood Systems for Food Access

Context:
Ensuring food security and access to nutritious food is crucial for individual and social well-being.

 

World Food Day 2024 Theme

• Theme: ‘Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future.’
• Collaboration: FAO, IFAD, and WFP with the Government of India to promote food access as a fundamental human right.

 

Global Food Security Overview

• Hunger Crisis: 733 million people face hunger globally (FAO 2024).
• Food Security Impact: Essential for peaceful, stable communities.

 

India’s Agrifood System

• Green Revolution: Shifted India from food-deficient to food-surplus.
• Nutrition Focus: Key for child development and economic growth.
• White & Blue Revolutions: Boosted milk and fisheries sectors.
• Addressing Inequality: Prioritizing nutrition for all, especially marginalized communities.

 

India’s Food Security Journey

• Transformation: From food deficiency to surplus through effective policies, Green Revolution, and advanced supply chains.
• Food Security Law (2013): Ensures entitlements for 800 million people.
• Fortified Rice Initiative: From July 2024 to December 2028, reflects focus on nutrition.

 

Challenges for Indian Agriculture

• Small & Marginal Farmers: 82% of agrarian households have less than two hectares.
• Natural Resource Degradation: Overuse of groundwater and chemicals depletes resources.
• Technology & Market Access: Fragmented land holdings hinder tech adoption and market linkage.
• Climate Change Risks: Erratic weather impacts crop yields, requiring sustainable practices.

 

Government and International Support

• Key Focus: Improving natural resource management, market access, and technology for smallholder farmers.
• Support for Non-Agricultural Households: Equal focus on food access for urban and non-farming families.

 

Strengthening Food System Resilience

• Addressing Inequality: Urban food access and smallholder farmer support are vital.
• Public Distribution System: Key in bridging food access gaps across communities.

 

Conclusion: A Collective Responsibility

• Focus: Ensuring equitable, resilient agrifood systems that benefit both farmers and urban dwellers.
• Partnerships: Collaboration between FAO, IFAD, WFP, and India emphasizes shared responsibility for food security.
• Objective: Build a sustainable future where everyone has access to nutritious food, contributing to societal prosperity.