October 16 is celebrated every year as world food day, the food agencies of the United Nations pledged to work together to end
(i). Hunger
(ii). Eradicate food insecurity
(iii). Achieve sustainable development goal 2.
Food is the essence of life and the bedrock of our cultures and community.
It is a powerful means to bring people together to grow, nourish and sustain the planet.
Projections show that the world is not on track to achieve zero hunger by 2030.
India success in food security
1. India has become a net exporter of food grains from being a net importer.
2. During the covid-19 pandemic, the central and state government distributed 23 million tons of food grains through the public distribution system providing emergency assistance to families.
3. The government also found an alternative solution to provide food ration to 90 million school children.
4. Agriculture grew at 3.4 % during the first quarter of the financial year (2020-21) and the area cultivated in the kharif season excreted 110 million hectares.
Challenges
1. Even though malnutrition in India has declined over the past decade, Comprehensive National nutrition survey 2016-18 said that 40 million children are chronically malnourished and more than half of the Indian women aged between 15 - 49 years are anaemic.
2. Climate change continues to be a potential threat to Agro biodiversity that can impact everything from productivity to livelihoods across the food ecosystem.
3. Intensified food production systems, excessive use of chemicals and unsustainable farming practices is causing soil degradation and fast depletion of groundwater reserves.
Measures adopted by India
1. The Integrated child development services provides cooked meals and take home rations to 200 million children under the age of 6 and to pregnant and lactating mothers.
2. India is innovatively developing drought and flood tolerant seed varieties, weather based agricultural advisories, promotion of millets and small-scale irrigation to tackle the issue of climate change.
3. The three agencies of the UN i.e., Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Program (WFP) are collaborating with the government, civil society, farmers organisation to build a sustainable food ecosystem.
Way Forward
1. A food system to be sustainable must provide enough nutritious food for all without compromising feeding future generations.
2. Therefore governments, private sector, civil society and local communities have to play a role in transforming our food systems to withstand the increasing volatility and climate shocks.
BY- RISHABH GOYAL