May 2025

India is a major producer of milk, fruits, vegetables, grains and livestock

India struggles with under nutrition and over nutrition alongside micro nutrient deficiencies.

Ranked 105 out of 127 in Global Hunger Index, 2024

NFHS 5 survey of 2019 - 2021

• nearly 194 million Indians are under nourished.
• Among children under 5,
  • 35.5% are stunted
  • 32.1% are underweight
  • 19.3% are suffering from wasting

There is also increase in over weight and obesity , affecting 24% of women and 22.9% of men

57% of women are anaemic.

Globally food system failures cost nearly $12 trillion annually through health, nutrition and environmental degradation.

According to FAO, 55.6% of Indians are unable to afford nutritious food, cost rising to $3.36 purchasing power parity per person per day in 2022 from $2.86 in 2017.

SDGs 2 - Zero Hunger, 3 - Good Health and Well Being, 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production.

School based nutrition programmes like Nutri Pathshala, help combat childhood malnutrition by incorporating bio fortified grains into school meals. ¹

References

Footnotes

1. The Hindu - 10.05.2025 ↩