The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
Among these goals, SDG 2 aims to "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture." It is essential for ensuring the well-being of millions of people worldwide and it demands highly disciplined and concerted efforts at both the global and national levels to effectively address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition.
Global Perspective on Zero Hunger
Despite great strides mankind has made, hunger remains a global challenge with an estimated 690 million people suffering from hunger and chronic undernourishment. Multidimensional poverty, conflict internal and external, alarming levels of climate change, awful lack of access to resources, and food waste contribute to food insecurity in many regions. Few strategies are outlined below:
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture practices, such as agroecology, precision farming, and conservation agriculture, can help improve crop yields, protect natural resources, and enhance resilience to climate change. Supporting smallholder farmers, investing in agricultural research, and promoting access to markets are critical components of sustainable agriculture initiatives.
Besides organic farming, genetically modified crops, reducing water consuming crops to conserve precious water and increase yield are also being undertaken.
Enhancing Food Systems
Building resilient and inclusive food systems is essential for ensuring that nutritious and affordable food reaches all vulnerable groups. India’s championing of millets is a pointer in the right direction. Improving food distribution networks, reducing food waste along the value chain, and enhancing access to markets for smallscale producers can help address food insecurity and malnutrition.
Nutrition Education and Health Interventions
Promoting nutrition education, especially among vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly, is crucial for improving dietary diversity and addressing malnutrition. Health interventions, such as fortification programmes like iron fortified rice supplied through the public distribution system by the Government of India free of cost is a great inspiration for many countries struggling to meet the challenges.
Policy and Governance
Governments all over the world have to be proactive in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes that support food security and nutrition. The commitment to the economic growth and social development by the governments are easily reflected in their endeavours in this direction. The Governments should develop national strategies, set targets, allocate resources, and monitor progress for achieving zero hunger goals.
SDG Goal 02: Zero Hunger and India's Endeavor and Challenges
It is an appropriate time to examine India's efforts in achieving Zero Hunger, a goal that is vital for the country given its large population and significant incidence of multidimensional poverty and malnutrition.
India's Endeavor Toward Zero Hunger
India has taken numerous initiatives to address the challenges of hunger and food insecurity.
The approach includes improving agricultural productivity, enhancing food distribution systems, and implementing direct intervention programmes.
Improving Agricultural Productivity
India has focused on increasing agricultural output through the use of improved seeds, better irrigation practices, and the adoption of modern technology. Initiatives like the Green Revolution and more recent efforts to promote organic farming, promotion of millet cultivation and consumption, crop rotation to conserve water and the soil and promoting high yielding genetically modified crops, etc. are sustainable agriculture practices that fall under this category.
Public Distribution System (PDS)
One of India's key strategies in combating hunger is its Public Distribution System, which provides food-grains at free of cost or at subsidized prices to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population. The PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana commenced during covid pandemic despite hugh expenditure. Over the years, efforts have been made to improve the efficiency and reach of PDS to ensure that it benefits the actual targeted population.
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
This Act legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains. Under this, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) schemes are crucial components that aim to enhance nutrition among children.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
To reduce leakage and corruption in food distribution, India has increasingly moved towards cash transfers and DBT, where benefits are directly transferred to the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
An overview of the Challenges that glares at India in Achieving Zero Hunger:
1. Population Pressure
India's large population with increased demand for food and energy puts continuous pressure on its food resources. Ensuring adequate food production and distribution to meet the demands of over a billion people remains a daunting task.
2. Agricultural Challenges
Issues such as inadequate irrigation facilities, dependence on erratic monsoon, unscientific farming practices, and diminishing returns in agriculture affect productivity. Climate change and environmental degradation further exacerbate these challenges.
3. Economic Inequality and Poverty
High levels of economic inequality and persistent poverty mean that even when food is available, it is not accessible to everyone due to lack of purchasing power.
4. Food Wastage
Significant amounts of food are wasted due to poor storage and inefficient supply chains. Reducing this wastage is essential for improving food security.
5. Nutritional Deficiencies
Even where food is available, nutritional quality is often lacking. India has high rates of malnutrition, anemia, and stunting and wasting among children, indicating deficiency in the nutritional needs.
Way Forward
India's journey towards achieving SDG 2: Zero Hunger is tremendously appreciable but still fraught with complex challenges.
Enhancing the efficiency of food distribution systems, improving the economic capability of the poor to access food, and addressing the nutritional quality of the food consumed.
Leveraging technology, involving community participation, and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices will be crucial for India to meet its Zero Hunger goal.
As the country progresses, it remains imperative that policies are inclusive and resilient, ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest to eradicate hunger.
