The Path to Ending Global Hunger Runs Through India
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Hunger and Poverty
Source: The Hindu
Context: The UN FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 report highlights a decline in global undernourishment to 8.2% (673 million people), with India playing a decisive role.
• India reduced its prevalence of undernourishment from 3% (2020–22) to 12% (2022–24), meaning 30 million fewer hungry people.
About Hunger
What is Hunger?
• Definition: Hunger refers to the condition of chronic undernourishment where individuals fail to obtain sufficient calories or nutrients to maintain health and productivity.
• It manifests in three forms: Undernourishment: Calorie deficiency (not enough energy intake). Malnutrition: Poor quality diet lacking protein and micronutrients. Hidden Hunger: Micronutrient deficiency (iron, iodine, vitamin A, zinc).
• Undernourishment: Calorie deficiency (not enough energy intake).
• Malnutrition: Poor quality diet lacking protein and micronutrients.
• Hidden Hunger: Micronutrient deficiency (iron, iodine, vitamin A, zinc).
Causes Behind Hunger
• Poverty and Inequality Poverty remains the biggest driver of hunger. Low incomes restrict household food access even when supply is available. Example: As per NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023, about 11.28% of India’s population remains multidimensionally poor.
• Poverty remains the biggest driver of hunger. Low incomes restrict household food access even when supply is available.
• Example: As per NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023, about 11.28% of India’s population remains multidimensionally poor.
• Agricultural Challenges Low productivity due to fragmented landholdings, erratic monsoons, and poor irrigation coverage. Post-harvest losses (13% of food output), as per FAO estimates, reduce food availability.
• Low productivity due to fragmented landholdings, erratic monsoons, and poor irrigation coverage.
• Post-harvest losses (13% of food output), as per FAO estimates, reduce food availability.
• High Food Prices FAO notes the cost of a healthy diet in India remains unaffordable for 60% of the population. Inflation in pulses, fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods keeps nutrition out of reach for the poor.
• FAO notes the cost of a healthy diet in India remains unaffordable for 60% of the population.
• Inflation in pulses, fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods keeps nutrition out of reach for the poor.
• Weak Infrastructure & Supply Chains Inadequate cold storage and poor logistics increase food wastage. India loses ₹92,000 crore annually in post-harvest losses (ICAR 2022 report).
• Inadequate cold storage and poor logistics increase food wastage.
• India loses ₹92,000 crore annually in post-harvest losses (ICAR 2022 report).
• Governance, Conflict & Climate Change Global hunger is worsened by conflicts (Ukraine war), pandemics (COVID-19), and climate shocks (floods, droughts). India too faces frequent climate-induced crop losses, affecting farmer income and food availability.
• Global hunger is worsened by conflicts (Ukraine war), pandemics (COVID-19), and climate shocks (floods, droughts).
• India too faces frequent climate-induced crop losses, affecting farmer income and food availability.
• Health & Sanitation Issues Poor maternal health, open defecation, and lack of clean drinking water aggravate child malnutrition. NFHS-5 (2019–21): 35.5% of children under 5 are stunted, 19.3% are wasted.
• Poor maternal health, open defecation, and lack of clean drinking water aggravate child malnutrition.
• NFHS-5 (2019–21): 35.5% of children under 5 are stunted, 19.3% are wasted.
Consequences of Hunger
• Human Capital Loss Children with stunting and wasting suffer poor learning outcomes and reduced adult productivity. Hunger perpetuates intergenerational poverty cycles.
• Children with stunting and wasting suffer poor learning outcomes and reduced adult productivity.
• Hunger perpetuates intergenerational poverty cycles.
• Economic Burden Hunger costs nations billions in lost productivity and increased healthcare expenses. The Global Nutrition Report (2021) estimates malnutrition costs India 2–3% of GDP annually.
• Hunger costs nations billions in lost productivity and increased healthcare expenses.
• The Global Nutrition Report (2021) estimates malnutrition costs India 2–3% of GDP annually.
• Health Risks Increases susceptibility to infections (TB, diarrhoea, anaemia). Micronutrient deficiencies lead to blindness (Vitamin A), poor immunity (zinc), and cognitive impairment (iodine deficiency).
• Increases susceptibility to infections (TB, diarrhoea, anaemia).
• Micronutrient deficiencies lead to blindness (Vitamin A), poor immunity (zinc), and cognitive impairment (iodine deficiency).
• Social Instability Food insecurity can trigger unrest, migration, and social tensions, as seen in multiple food riots globally.
• Food insecurity can trigger unrest, migration, and social tensions, as seen in multiple food riots globally.
• Failure of SDGs Hunger directly blocks achievement of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and undermines progress on SDG 3 (Health), SDG 4 (Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work).
• Hunger directly blocks achievement of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and undermines progress on SDG 3 (Health), SDG 4 (Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work).
India’s Role in Combating Hunger
• Revamped Public Distribution System (PDS) Digitisation, Aadhaar authentication, and ONORC (One Nation One Ration Card) improved targeting. Provides subsidised grains to 800 million beneficiaries under NFSA & PMGKAY.
• Digitisation, Aadhaar authentication, and ONORC (One Nation One Ration Card) improved targeting.
• Provides subsidised grains to 800 million beneficiaries under NFSA & PMGKAY.
• Nutrition-Specific Programmes PM POSHAN (2021): Expanded school meals into nutrition-sensitive interventions. ICDS & POSHAN Abhiyaan: Focus on dietary diversity, maternal and child health. Anaemia Mukt Bharat: Aims to reduce anaemia prevalence among women and children.
• PM POSHAN (2021): Expanded school meals into nutrition-sensitive interventions.
• ICDS & POSHAN Abhiyaan: Focus on dietary diversity, maternal and child health.
• Anaemia Mukt Bharat: Aims to reduce anaemia prevalence among women and children.
• Digital and Technological Advantage e-NAM, AgriStack, Geospatial tools: Enhance farmer-market linkages and reduce food losses. Bhavishya & CPENGRAMS portals: Improve pensioners’ food security and grievance redressal indirectly.
• e-NAM, AgriStack, Geospatial tools: Enhance farmer-market linkages and reduce food losses.
• Bhavishya & CPENGRAMS portals: Improve pensioners’ food security and grievance redressal indirectly.
• Agrifood System Transformation Promoting climate-resilient crops, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and women-led food enterprises. Expanding cold chains and logistics to reduce wastage.
• Promoting climate-resilient crops, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and women-led food enterprises.
• Expanding cold chains and logistics to reduce wastage.
• Global Leadership India’s scale of poverty reduction and hunger control contributes significantly to global SDG 2 progress. As FAO notes, India is a model for Global South countries, showcasing digital governance and mass food security interventions.
• India’s scale of poverty reduction and hunger control contributes significantly to global SDG 2 progress.
• As FAO notes, India is a model for Global South countries, showcasing digital governance and mass food security interventions.
Way Forward
• Shift from Calories to Nutrition Fortify staple foods (rice, wheat, salt, edible oils). Subsidise protein-rich foods like pulses, milk, and eggs.
• Fortify staple foods (rice, wheat, salt, edible oils).
• Subsidise protein-rich foods like pulses, milk, and eggs.
• Strengthen Infrastructure Expand cold chains, warehouses, and farmer cooperatives to reduce ₹92,000 crore post-harvest losses.
• Expand cold chains, warehouses, and farmer cooperatives to reduce ₹92,000 crore post-harvest losses.
• Affordable Diets Ensure access to fruits, vegetables, and animal-source foods for low-income families. Use DBT subsidies for nutrient-rich foods.
• Ensure access to fruits, vegetables, and animal-source foods for low-income families.
• Use DBT subsidies for nutrient-rich foods.
• Empower Small Farmers & Women Enterprises Scale up FPOs, SHGs, and women-led agribusinesses. Promote cultivation of climate-smart, biofortified crops.
• Scale up FPOs, SHGs, and women-led agribusinesses.
• Promote cultivation of climate-smart, biofortified crops.
• Tackle Malnutrition & Obesity Together Double-duty policies: Address both undernutrition and rising obesity in urban poor. Expand nutrition literacy campaigns at schools and workplaces.
• Double-duty policies: Address both undernutrition and rising obesity in urban poor.
• Expand nutrition literacy campaigns at schools and workplaces.
• Global Knowledge Sharing Share India’s models like ONORC, PDS digitalisation, and nutrition schemes with other developing nations.
• Share India’s models like ONORC, PDS digitalisation, and nutrition schemes with other developing nations.
Conclusion
India has emerged as a symbol of hope in global hunger reduction. The shift from mere calorie security to nutrition, resilience, and agrifood system transformation is crucial. With only five years left for the 2030 SDGs, India’s leadership will determine whether the world can realistically achieve Zero Hunger.