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

17 Oct 2022 Editorial: Food day as a reminder to ‘leave no one behind’

Source: The Hindu

News: COVID-19 pandemic drastically undermined the food and nutrition security. Other factors such as climate change, spiralling food inflation, conflict, and inequality are also contributing towards severe hunger. 

Factors Contributing towards food and nutrition insecurity:

• Recent Climate shocks and extreme weather phenomena raised concerns about India’s wheat and rice production over the next year. 
• Unsustainable increase in  population: India’s population is projected to reach 1.5 billion people by 2030 that will put extra burden on Agri-food systems.
• Input-intensive agriculture leading to degradation of soil and financial insecurity among farmers.
• Declining nutritional value of food products due to excessive chemical  use and  non-judicious water use.

India’s contribution towards food security:

• India has achieved self-sufficiency and improved  food production.
• India exported $49.6 billion in total agriculture exports during 2021-22,a 20% increase from 2020-21 and became  one of the largest agricultural product exporters in the world.
• Main agricultural exports of India: Rice, sugar, and spices 
• Humanitarian food aid to many countries such as Afghanisatn.
• India ensures food aid  even during food supply shortages and disruptions during the Ukraine crisis. 
• India contributed toward equity in food through food safety nets that cover over a billion people.
• Public procurement and buffer stock policy of the government provided food safety nets and inclusion during the global food crisis of 2008-12 global food crisis and COVID-19 pandemic fallout.
• Importance of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana(PMGKAY) scheme introduced during COVID-19: Paper by  International Monetary Fund(IMF) on ‘Pandemic, Poverty, and Inequality: Evidence from India’ asserted that ‘extreme poverty was maintained below 1% in 2020 due to PMGKAY.
• India as a leader in reviving millet production: India appealed to the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
• India renewed attention towards Millets for good nutrition, health, and the planet.

Initiatives of Government of India:

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for promotion of  organic farming.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana(PMKSY) for improved water use through focus on more crops per drop.
• Soil Health Management through Integrated Nutrient Management under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.
• Programmes for improving food access to vulnerable populations:  Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (PM POSHAN Scheme), and take-home rations.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA),2013 that led to Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
• PM POSHAN scheme that was earlier known as the Mid-Day Meals scheme.
• State and National governments along with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) ensure efficiency and try to improve these programmes through digitisation and rice fortification, better health, and sanitation measures. 
• National government is implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Millets) as part of the National Food Security Mission to enhance the area, production, and productivity of millets.

Way Ahead:

• Climate adaptation and resilience building.
• Better production through promotion of sustainable practices in the areas of crops, livestock, fisheries, food security, and management of natural resources.
• Inclusive, effective, and sustainable agri-food systems through organic farming or Zero Budget Natural Farming etc.
• Strengthen food security nets to ensure access to essential nutrition for millions and promote livelihood for vulnerable communities.
• Revive indigenous crops such as millets for food and nutrition security through State-level missions.
• More focus on climate smart or drought resistant crops.
• Preservation of  agrobiodiversity by ensuring genetic diversity in crops.
• Incentivize investments and fair remuneration to producers of climate smart crops for inclusive and equitable food systems.
• Promotion of millet and agricultural biodiversity on various multilateral fora such as G20.
• Strengthening Millet value chains in India  for enhancing nutritional benefits and increasing farmers’ incomes.
• Strengthening transparency in the agricultural system through promoting labelling, traceability, etc.

Conclusion: Food and nutrition security contributes towards collective peace and prosperity. India should lead the global discourse on food and nutrition security through the principle of leaving no one behind and home-grown solutions and best practices. It should work to make its food system more equitable, empowering, and inclusive.

Article: The Hindu: Food day as a reminder to ‘leave no one behind’(Konda Reddy Chavva,Ulac Demirag,Bishow Parajuli)

Article Link:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/food-day-as-a-reminder-to-leave-no-one-behind/article66017453.ece

Yojna IAS Daily Current Affairs eng med 17th Oct

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