Dr. Parveen Kumar
pkumar6674@gmail.com
India’s progress in augmenting food grains production since independence has been unparallel. From a food deficit nation to a food secure one, India now leads the world in production of many commodities. India is a top-three global food grain producer, frequently ranking 2nd in rice and wheat production and 1st in pulses and millets as of 2024-2025. With a record production of around 354-357 million tonnes for the 2024-25 agricultural year, India ranks behind China, securing a strong position in overall cereal production. Production of food grains has increased almost seven times from 50 million tonnes to more than 350 million tonnes at present ensuring a stable and secure supply for the population. Horticultural production has exceeded food grains production. In the country, the daily per capita net availability of food grains has reached to about 568 grams which translates to about 207.6 kg per person annually.
Despite a considerable improvement made in agricultural production and consequent food security, nutritional security has been a cause of concern for all. Nutritional security is a state where all individuals have consistent physical, economic, and social access to safe, nutritious food that meets dietary needs for an active, healthy life. It goes beyond food security (calorie availability) by focusing on dietary quality, nutrient intake, and the body’s ability to utilize food, encompassing clean water and health services. The core pillars of Nutritional Security include Availability i. e sufficient, diverse, and nutritious food must be available; Accessibility i. e economic and physical means to obtain this food; Utilization i. e proper biological use of food through adequate diet, water, sanitation, and health care and Stability which means reliable access to nutrition at all times, unaffected by crises or seasons. Nutritional security results Holistic Health by reduction of malnutrition, including stunting (36% of children under 5 in India) and wasting (19%), which are linked to about 45% of deaths in children under 5. It also leads to economic productivity by boosting human capital, reducing illness-related lost productivity and lowering healthcare costs. It also prevents ‘Hidden Hunger’ by ensuring intake of essential micronutrients (iron, vitamin A, iodine) that prevent cognitive impairment and chronic diseases.
The world GHI score sat at 18.3, marking virtually no significant shift since 2016, placing the global hunger level firmly in the “moderate” category and pushing the 2030 Zero Hunger target out of reach. [Around 35.5 million children under the age of five were acutely malnourished. Of these, nearly 10 million suffered from severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition. Over 150 million children suffered from chronic under-nutrition. India specifically recorded the highest number of wasted (low weight-for-height) children in this age bracket. India faces a ‘serious’ hunger problem ranking 102nd out of 123 countries in the 2025 Global Hunger Index with a score of 25.8. Despite being a top food producer, around 14% of the population suffers from serious hunger and the nation hosts roughly 25% of the world’s undernourished people. Malnutrition is particularly high in women and children, with high rates of wasting and anemia. The hidden hunger is not only more prevalent in poorer countries in Asia and Africa, but it also exists in developed world and in countries like USA. Vitamin A deficiency worldwide was identified as a major problem worldwide until 1992. In 1992 scientists from John Hopkins University revealed that 1.3 to 2.5 million deaths among infants and preschoolers could be prevented every year if they just received enough vitamin A; no other nutritional interventions or improvements were needed. Deficiencies of various micronutrients, including vitamin A, zinc and iron are common in the developing world and affect billions of people. These can lead to amongst other symptoms, a higher incidence of blindness, a weaker immune system, stunted growth and impaired cognitive development. The poor, particularly the rural poor, tend to subsist on a diet of staple crops such as rice, wheat and maize, which are low in these micronutrients, and most cannot afford or efficiently cultivate enough fruits, vegetables or meat products that are necessary to obtain healthy levels of these nutrients.
SEHAT (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation): To combat the menace of hidden hunger and malnutrition, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has come up with a landmark initiative called SEHAT (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation). SEHAT is a landmark national mission launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It proactively links agriculture, nutrition, and public health to combat malnutrition and prevent diseases. The mission will work on four core strategies:
Crop Biofortification: It will shift focus from just food yield to nutritional value by promoting bio-fortified and traditional crops to alleviate ‘hidden hunger’. The country has already started working on ‘Biofortification’. It differs from conventional fortification in that biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during processing of the crops. Biofortification may therefore present a way to reach populations where supplementation and conventional fortification activities may be difficult to implement and/or limited. Some examples of biofortification include iron-biofortification of rice, beans, sweet potato, cassava and legumes, zinc-biofortification of wheat, rice, beans, sweet potato, maize and provitamin A carotenoid-biofortification of sweet potato, maize and cassava; and amino acid and protein-biofortification of sorghum and cassava. In the case of iron, WHO estimated that biofortification could help curing the 2 billion people suffering from iron deficiency-induced anemia.
Integrated Farming: Under SEHAT Integrated Farming will be encouraged through sustainable agricultural practices designed to build resilient and healthy food systems. Focus will now be on farming system approach. A farming system integrates crops, livestock, aquaculture, and agro-forestry to create a balanced, self-sustaining ecosystem. Output of one enterprise becomes intput of other one. Sustainable agriculture optimizes this system using low-input, eco-friendly practices like crop rotation and natural pest management to protect natural resources, minimize pollution, and ensure long-term economic profitability
One Health Approach: It will be based on a ‘One Health Approach’ collaborating across medical, veterinary, and agricultural disciplines to prevent zoonotic diseases, manage data, and improve pandemic preparedness. The One Health approach is an integrated framework designed to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. It recognizes that human, animal and environmental healths are deeply interdependent and requires collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts across various sectors to address global health threats. One Health approach focuses on physical well-being, disease prevention, and ensuring populations are protected against outbreaks. Animal health protects livestock, domestic pets, and wildlife, while promoting sustainable agricultural and conservation practices and Environmental health maintains healthy ecosystems, clean water, clean air, and climate stability, which are foundational for all life.
Preventive Healthcare: It is another aspect of SEHAT wherein the national health strategy will be shifted from a reactive, curative model to a proactive one by improving dietary habits and nutritional security at the grassroots level. Preventive healthcare (or prophylaxis) consists of proactive measures including check-ups, screenings, and vaccinations designed to prevent illnesses, detect potential health issues early, and manage risk factors before symptoms develop. It aims to keep individuals healthy, improve long-term well-being, and reduce the need for more intensive, costly treatments later. Routine Screenings, Vaccinations & Immunizations: Annual Wellness Exams Lifestyle Counseling and Pediatric Care are essential part of it.
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