On 16th October every year, the world celebrates World Food Day. This day has been set aside to commemorate the establishment of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 1945. As a specialized agency, FAO leads international efforts aimed at eradicating hunger.
Key Highlights of World Food Day 2022
World Food Day is used as an annual platform to address the global problem of hunger. It emphasizes Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which is Zero Hunger. The theme for the 2022 celebrations is “Leave No One Behind”. This theme underscores the importance of inclusivity and sustainability in our agrifood systems. A significant part of the day is devoted to promoting global awareness and action towards alleviating suffering from hunger and ensuring healthy diets for all. There are also many initiatives aimed at educating people about malnutrition and obesity, which have severe health consequences.
Global Hunger: State of Affairs
The issue of hunger is worsening globally. According to the Hunger Hotspots Outlook (2022-23) jointly reported by FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP), over 205 million people across 45 countries will require emergency food assistance for survival. This trend is mirrored by the Global Report on Food Crises 2022, which noted that around 180 million people in 40 countries are grappling with unavoidable food insecurity. Furthermore, the Global Hunger Report 2022 reveals a stagnant progress against hunger globally, with a marginal improvement in the global score from 19.1 in 2014 to 18.2 in 2022.
India and the Fight against Hunger
In the South Asia region, India’s performance in tackling hunger is better than only war-torn Afghanistan, ranking 107 out of 121 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2022. However, several initiatives are in place to improve this situation. These include the Eat Right India and Fit India Movement, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, and others aimed at improving health and environmental wellness. The government has introduced 17 new biofortified varieties of crops to address the lack of important micronutrients in common crop varieties.
Policy Initiatives for Food Security in India
Several policy changes have been made in India to ensure food security. Amendments have been made to the APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) Acts to increase competitiveness. Steps have also been taken to ensure farmers receive a minimum of one and a half times the cost as Minimum Support Price (MSP). Changes to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 have been enacted to address the issue of grain wastage. Efforts are underway to make India Trans Fat free by 2022, ahead of the World Health Organisation (WHO) target, along with many other initiatives.
FAO and India: A Fruitful Collaboration
FAO has been supportive of India’s efforts in fighting hunger. For instance, FAO supported India’s proposal to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Additionally, the Government of India runs programs like the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to improve food access, especially for vulnerable populations.
National Nutrition Mission: An Indian Initiative
The National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan) is an initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It seeks to improve the nutritional status of children (0-6 years), adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. The mission converges with various other programs like Anganwadi services, National Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Swachh-Bharat Mission, etc. The goal is to achieve a time-bound improvement in nutritional status during the next three years, beginning 2017-18. Notably, this mission does not include provisions relating to the consumption of millets, unpolished rice, coarse cereals, and eggs.
