Ensuring Food Nutrition Security Through Agrobiodiversity Maharashtra

Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security through the Promotion of Agrobiodiversity in the Semi-arid Region of Maharashtra:

Food and Nutrition Security In India and How To Deal With It

According to the poll, food and nutritional security in India have gotten worse since the most recent NFHS cycle (2015-16). The data was made available for 22 states and Union Territories (UTs), and 18 of them show either stagnation or worsening stunting (height-for-age) levels among children under the age of five.

According to studies, childhood stunting, which is a symptom of chronic long-term malnutrition, is linked to low academic performance and a reduced ability to make an income as an adult. In addition, nutrition offers a powerful starting point for human development, with a 16:1 economic return (for every rupee spent, more than 16 will be returned). Around one-third of all stunted children under the age of five live in India, according to statistics. Therefore, the nation faces a difficult road ahead in order to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal for childhood stunting and food insecurity in India.

The Global Nutrition Report’s data shows that 20.8% of children under five are wasted, or underweight for their height, and that 37.9% of children under five are stunted. This is substantially higher than in other developing nations, where 8.9% of children are wasted and 25% of children suffer from stunting on average. Anemia still affects up to 52% of the target population of women between the ages of 15 and 49.

Regardless of where they live—urban or rural—anyone could experience micronutrient deficiencies without even being aware of it. Even when we are eating enough food, deficiencies in micronutrients like iron, Vitamin B-12, iodine, and zinc can have severe repercussions. This includes immune system weaknesses, low productivity, mental and physical impairment, and greater baby and maternal mortality rates.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that more than two billion people, or one in every three people, suffer from “hidden hunger” worldwide. Making sure there is dietary diversity is among the most effective methods to fight this. In India, the majority of people eat diets high in carbohydrates, with rice and wheat being the cheapest dietary options. Other components of a healthy diet, such as legumes, fruits, and vegetables, are neglected as a result. India’s progress toward the health and nutrition goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been jeopardised by this. Read more about it in the food and nutrition security in India pdf.