The Prayas ePathshala

Exams आसान है !

03 October 2024 – The Indian Express

Facebook
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

How can we improve the food security & nutrition

Context and Significance:

  • The recent release of the “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024” (SOFI 2024) report, a collaborative publication by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO, has sparked a critical dialogue on global food security. This report provides an in-depth analysis of ongoing food insecurity and malnutrition trends worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced financial efforts to eradicate hunger and improve nutritional outcomes across all populations.

Key Insights from the SOFI 2024 Report:

Global Prevalence of Undernourishment:

  • Hunger Statistics: In 2023, between 713 and 757 million people globally faced hunger, translating to one in every eleven people worldwide and one in every five individuals in Africa.
  • Regional Focus: While Asia reports a lower percentage of undernourished individuals, it still accounts for the highest number, with 384.5 million people suffering from undernourishment.

Food Insecurity Trends:

  • Extent of Food Insecurity: Approximately 2.33 billion people globally encountered moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023, with severe cases affecting over 864 million individuals.

Cost of a Healthy Diet:

  • Global Cost: The average cost of a healthy diet increased to USD 3.96 per person per day in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms in 2022.
  • Affordability Issues: Despite this rise, the number of people unable to afford such a diet decreased to 2.83 billion in 2022, marking a notable, yet uneven, recovery.

Regional Disparities:

  • Diet Costs by Region: Latin America and the Caribbean report the highest costs for healthy diets, while Oceania sees the lowest. However, Africa has faced significant setbacks in terms of affordability improvements.

Child Nutrition and Health:

  • Stunting and Wasting: Although there has been progress in reducing stunting and wasting among children under five, it remains insufficient to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Breastfeeding Practices: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months has improved but remains below the 2030 target.

Rising Health Challenges:

  • Obesity and Anaemia: Globally, obesity rates continue to rise, while anaemia among women aged 15 to 49 years is also increasing, posing significant public health challenges.
  • Funding and Investment Gaps:
  • Public and Private Financing: Public spending on food security and nutrition remains inadequate, especially in low-income countries. Furthermore, private financing flows are challenging to monitor, exacerbating existing funding gaps.

India-Specific Highlights from the Report:

Undernourishment in India:

  • Global Leader in Hunger: India is home to 194.6 million undernourished individuals, the highest globally, although this number has decreased from 240 million during 2004-06.
  • Large Affected Population: A staggering 55.6% of Indians, equating to 790 million people, cannot afford a healthy diet, though this figure has improved by 3% points since 2022.

Chronic Undernourishment and Food Insecurity:

  • Persistent Hunger: Approximately 13% of India’s population suffers from chronic undernourishment, reflecting deep-seated food insecurity. India’s ranking of 111th on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 further underscores these challenges.

Child Health Concerns:

  • Wasting and Stunting: India records the highest prevalence of wasting (18.7%) in South Asia, with stunting affecting 31.7% of children under five.
  • Low Birth Weight: Nearly 27.4% of babies born in India have low birth weight, the highest globally, indicating maternal malnutrition.

Anaemia and Obesity:  

  • High Anaemia Rates: Over 53% of Indian women are anaemic, the highest in South Asia, contributing significantly to the global rise in anaemia among women aged 15-49 years.
  • Obesity Trends: Childhood obesity affects 2.8% of children under five, and adult obesity has risen to 7.3%. Sedentary lifestyles are a key contributor to this trend.

Nutrition and Food Quality Issues:

  • Dual Burden of Malnutrition: The report highlights the growing issue of both undernutrition and obesity within the same population, driven by poor diet quality and high consumption of ultra-processed foods.
  • Public Spending on Nutrition: While there has been some increase in public spending on food security and nutrition in India, the report stresses the need for more strategic allocation and effective utilisation of these resources.
  • Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity and malnutrition issues in India, with the economic downturn, loss of livelihoods, and disruptions in food supply chains severely impacting food access and affordability.

Major Indian Initiatives:

National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013

  • Objective: Ensures access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices.

National Food Processing Mission

  • Focus: Aims to enhance the value addition and decrease wastage in the food processing sector.

Mission Poshan 2.0

  • Goal: Focuses on strengthening nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcomes.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme

  • Target: Provides food, preschool education, and primary healthcare to children under 6 years and their mothers.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

  • Benefit: A maternity benefit program aimed at pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Mid-Day Meal Scheme

  • Purpose: Provides meals to school children, aiming to improve nutritional levels and school attendance.

Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG)

  • Aim: Focuses on improving the health and nutrition of adolescent girls.

Mother’s Absolute Affection (MAA)

  • Initiative: Promotes breastfeeding practices to improve maternal and child health.

Poshan Vatikas

  • Innovation: Establishes nutrition gardens to provide access to healthy, fresh food.

Other Relevant Policies:

  • Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Agricultural Products
  • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
  • National Horticulture Mission

Key Recommendations from the SOFI 2024 Report:

Enhance Public Investment:

  • Increased Budgets: Urges boosting public spending on food security and nutrition programs, particularly those involving local community participation, for greater effectiveness and sustainability.

Encourage Private Sector Investment:

  • Innovative Financing: Suggests mobilising private investment through social bonds, green bonds, and sustainability-linked bonds to bridge resource gaps.
  • Global Partnerships: Calls for stronger global partnerships and alignment of national policies with international frameworks to facilitate better knowledge, technology, and resource exchange.

Promote Climate-Resilient Agriculture:

  • Agricultural Innovation: Recommends developing climate-resilient agricultural practices, including the research and implementation of drought-resistant crops and sustainable farming methods.

Improve Agrifood Systems:

  • System Efficiency: Advocates for better infrastructure, logistics, and market access to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of agrifood systems, thereby reducing food loss and waste.

Comprehensive Nutrition Programs:

  • Integrated Approach: Calls for nutrition programs addressing both undernutrition and overnutrition, promoting balanced diets and physical activity to combat rising obesity rates.

Focus on Vulnerable Populations:

  • Targeted Policies: Highlights the importance of policies that support vulnerable groups, including small farmers, women, and children, with a focus on improving nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood.

Strengthen Data Collection and Monitoring:

  • Data Integration: Emphasises the need for improved data collection and integration with national databases to enable better policy-making and more precise identification of areas requiring attention.

Conclusion and Way Forward:

  • The SOFI 2024 report paints a sobering picture of global food security and nutrition, underscoring the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity. While significant strides have been made in some areas, the report clearly indicates that much more needs to be done, particularly in regions like South Asia, where both undernutrition and obesity are prevalent. For India, the findings highlight the dual challenge of addressing chronic undernourishment and rising obesity, necessitating a multifaceted approach that includes increased public investment, innovative private sector engagement, and targeted interventions for the most vulnerable populations. As we move forward, a concerted global effort, underpinned by robust data and climate-resilient practices, will be critical in building a world where food security and nutrition are universally accessible.

Select Course