The path to ending global hunger runs through India , Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Global undernourishment decreased to 673 million in 2024 from 688 million in 2023, according to the UN report.
• Undernourishment in India declined from 14.3% in 2020-22 to 12% in 2022-24, lifting 30 million people out of hunger.
• India's Public Distribution System (PDS) has been revitalized through digitalization and Aadhaar-enabled targeting.
• Over 60% of India's population cannot afford a healthy diet due to high prices of nutrient-dense foods.
• India is investing in schemes like PM POSHAN to improve dietary diversity and nutrition sensitivity.
• India is urged to transform its agrifood system to boost production and affordability of nutrient-rich foods.

Detailed Insights:

• India's PDS transformation includes real-time inventory tracking, biometric authentication, and the One Nation One Ration Card platform, enhancing food security for vulnerable populations.
• Digital platforms like AgriStack and e-NAM can further strengthen market access and improve agricultural planning for nutrition-sensitive interventions.
• Despite progress in reducing hunger, malnutrition, obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies are rising, especially among poor urban and rural populations.
• India needs to invest in post-harvest infrastructure like cold storage to reduce the 13% of food lost between farm and market, improving food availability and affordability.
• Supporting women-led food enterprises and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) cultivating climate-resilient crops can enhance both nutrition and livelihoods.
• India's progress in agrifood system transformation serves as a model for other developing countries in the Global South, showcasing innovations in digital governance and data-driven agriculture.
• Achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) requires a shift from delivering sustenance to delivering nutrition, resilience, and opportunity.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Public Distribution System (PDS): A government-run system for distributing subsidized food and essential items to the poor.
• One Nation One Ration Card: An initiative ensuring all citizens, especially migrant workers, can access PDS benefits across the country.
• Agrifood System: The entire range of actors and their interlinked value-adding activities involved in the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of agricultural and food products.