- As rightly quoted by the Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi “There’s enough on this planet for everyone’s needs but not for everyone’s greed.” But today the Coronavirus pandemic has brought focus to one of most essential necessity of living beings i.e. ”FOOD” as it unfolded huge disruptions in food supply chain as food providers stayed indoors due to which food production suffered.
- Peoples income fell and they could not buy food to feed families & supplies were affected, food prices increased in many countries. The crisis affected poor and vulnerable including 690 million people who were already chronically food insecure before the crisis.
- Keeping this in mind the world largest Humanitarian programme based in Rome “World Food Programme” was awarded Nobel peace prize 2020 for feeding millions of people to combat hunger, for contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas.
- The World food Day also coincides with 75 year of Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) that was set up to promote sustainable food system that deliver affordable and healthy diet and minimize food waste.
- The World food Day is celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) on 16th October 1945. The Prime Minister of India released a commemorative coin of Rs. 75 denomination to mark the 75th Anniversary of the FAO
- FAO works to build long-term resilience & sustainability while also supporting short-term solutions for vulnerable communities especially those suffering from hunger conflict or disease. The FAO now has more than 194 member states and works in more than 130 countries worldwide.
- According to WFP 1 in 11 people, still do not have enough to eat. More than 2 billion people today do not have access to enough safe, nutritious food. About 135 million people across 155 countries experience acute hunger requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihood assistance. In addition to the health and socio economic factors, COVID-19 has deepened the hunger crisis creating new epicenters of hunger in any countries.
- According to World Food Programme the pandemic could double the number of people suffering from acute hunger pushing it to more than quarter of billion by end of 2020. Another study estimates number of people under nourished worldwide could increase from 690million to 820million. The number of people who are severely food insecure around the world has risen nearly 70% in last 4 years. 10 countries constituted the worst food crisis in 2019
- We need to make food system more resistant to volatility and climate shocks. Efforts to ensure that our food systems grow a variety of food to nourish a growing population and sustain the planet can be undertaken by countries private sector & individuals.
- The world has made significant progress in fight against poverty, hunger & malnutrition however the cumulative challenge is hunger, Obesity, Environmental degradation, Food loss & waste that underlies an imbalance.
- The World food day this year is calling for Global solidarity to help the vulnerable and make food system more resilience & sustainability so that they can withstand increasing volatility and climate shock and provide affordable and descent livelihood for workers.
- This requires improved economic, social protection schemes and opportunities offered through digitization, ecommerce, and sustainable agricultural practices that preserve the earth’s natural resources, our health and the climate.
- In India the Central government made food distribution a key element of its strategy by initiating a food ration distribution programmes from April to November, issued a relief fund package of 1.7 lakh crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana Scheme(PMGKY) ensuring the poorest of poor were not left hungry in which 80 crore people or roughly 2/3 of India population were covered providing 5kg of rice/wheat per person and 1 kg dal to each family holding a ration card. The PM emphasized that feeding the needy during lockdown was the foremost priority of the country.
SCHEMES FOR FARMERS
- Over 8 crore 46 lakh farmers covered under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi(PM-KISAN). Central Government transfers Rs.6,000 in three tranches every year to beneficiaries
- Fixed pension under Pradhan Mantri Pension Yojana under which small and marginal farmer’s will get a fixed pension of Rs 3000/month on attaining age of 60 years.
- Government has set a goal to double farm incomes by 2022 and is working with multimodal focus to achieve the same
- PM Fasal Bima Yojana is biggest risk cover and safety net provided by the government to farmers.
- The government has also clubbed together 11 schemes and missions in agriculture space into umbrella scheme called Green revolution Krishonnati Yojana that is used to develop agriculture and allied sectors in holistic and scientific manner to increase farmers income by enanching production,productivity & better returns on the produce.
- India’s food security umbrella has many elements to tackle hunger and malnutrition. The National Food Security Act 2013 that covers 75% population and 50% urban population. It offers uniform entitlement of 5kg of cereals per person per month at highly subsidized prices. In addition, “Antyodaya Anna Yojana” (AAY) provides highly subsidized food to millions of poorest of families with every BPL family entitled to 35 Kilos per household per month.
- The PDS also aims to ensure food security by providing food and non-food items to poor at subsidized rate. Under the Midday meal, scheme lakhs of children are served freshly cooked meal in government and government aided schools. Through the National Nutritional strategy of 2017 governmentt has envisioned a malnutrition free India by 2022.
Challenges as we move towards zero Hunger
- As per the Global Hunger Index 2020, India is ranked 94 out of 107 countries which is based on 4 indicators:-undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality
- The 2 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-2) of UN deals with zero hunger. Zero Hunger challenge launched by Ban-Ki-Moon in 2012. Ending Hunger & Malnutrition, having sustainable and resilient, climate compactible agriculture and food systems that deliver for people and the planet is the core of achieving the SDG. It involves :
- Leaving no one behind, Human rights
- Coherent policies and coordinated action at National, Regional and Global level
- Inclusive multi-stakeholder stewardship at all levels
- Transformational implementation
- Investment in sustainable production, consumption including sustainable food and nutritional system
- Reshaping agriculture, food system vis-à-vis climate change.
- Food Security will ensure:
- Guaranteed access to healthy food for everyone, everyday
- Government organizations & individuals must distribute food fairly
- Sustainable Agriculture will ensure:
- People get all nutrition they need to live well
- Encourage responsible environment friendly eating habits
- Promote use of fields,forest,ocean and all natural resources essential for food production without damaging the planet.
- Poverty Eradication will ensure:
- Intake of healthy food and reduction in cases Malnutrition.
- Introduction of 17 new biofortified varieties of crops to overcome the shortcomings of the common variety of crops which lacks important micronutrients. Example: MACS 4028 Wheat, Madhuban Gajar, etc.
- Government and Political Leaders
- Must monitor market so that prices are fair for all farmers
- Need to keep large corporation in check so they protect and respect rights of local people
- Promote healthy eating, invest in research ,develop rural areas.
- Increased ambit and effective implementation of the Food Security Act, 2013
- Small Family Farmers:
- Around 90% of world farms are family owned, producing food for family and community
- They can come together as cooperatives, improve access to resources, and maximize profit
- Adapt to climate change, develop common strategies for sustainable cultivation
- Include communities that live off forestry, fishery and pastoralism
- Development of a large network of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
- Private sector
- Fight against hunger needs innovation from private sector
- Companies working in agriculture and services related to it
- Financial companies can give poor farmers access to funds
- MNC can use large areas of land responsibly to ensure that locals are not pushed away
- Avoid Food Waste:
- Quarter of food wasted each day enough to feed all hungry people in the world.
- Buy and Eat only hat is necessary, Say NO to plastic packaging, eat leftovers.
- Amendments in the Essential commodities Act 1955 to deal with the issue of grain wastage in India.
- Save Water:
- Droughts becoming more common
- Save water in whatever way you can
- Fix leaks, use rainwater in Garden
- Use bucket to bathe, turn off taps
- Buy Local:
- Shop from local farmers to support local economy; shorten journey between people and produce
- This lead to less emission, less pollution, overall healthier world
