Food Security and Nutrition

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report presents a mixed picture of global progress in combating hunger, highlighting both positive trends and pressing challenges, especially for countries like India.

Global Hunger and Food Insecurity - Key Highlights

1. Global Hunger Trends:

   • 673 million people worldwide faced hunger in 2024, which is 8.2% of the global population. While this is a slight improvement from 8.5% in 2023, hunger is still above pre-pandemic levels.

   • By 2030, approximately 512 million people may remain chronically undernourished, with nearly 60% of them in Africa.

   • The report warns that achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) will require substantial policy shifts, greater investment, and a reformed food system.

2. Food Insecurity:

   • 2.3 billion people globally suffer from moderate or severe food insecurity.

   • Factors such as the pandemic and the Ukraine war worsened food price inflation, making healthy diets unaffordable for many. However, the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet has dropped from 2.76 billion in 2019 to 2.60 billion in 2024.

3. Regional Breakdown:

   • Asia remains the region with the highest number of undernourished people, at 323 million, followed by Africa at 307 million, and Latin America and the Caribbean at 34 million.

India’s Nutritional Paradox

India faces significant challenges in the fight against hunger and malnutrition, despite some improvements.

1. Undernourishment and Diet Affordability:

   • 12% of India's population (approximately 172 million people) remain undernourished, a decrease from 243 million in 2006, but still high globally.

   • About 42.9% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet, with food prices rising from USD 2.77 (2017) to USD 4.07 (2024), making it financially challenging for many.

2. Double Burden of Malnutrition:

   • India faces a double burden: both undernutrition (stunting, wasting) and overnutrition (overweight and obesity) are rising.

   • Child wasting (18.7%) remains a major concern, with 21 million children affected, making India the country with the highest child wasting rate globally.

   • Child stunting affects 37.4 million children under five.

   • Overweight children have increased from 2.7 million in 2012 to 4.2 million in 2024, signaling a shift toward overnutrition.

   • Adult obesity in India has more than doubled, rising from 33.6 million to 71.4 million.

3. Anaemia in Women:

   • Over 53.7% of Indian women aged 15-49 suffer from anaemia, which is a severe health concern, and India ranks 4th globally in terms of anaemia prevalence.

Key Malnutrition Indicators

1. Stunting: Delayed growth and poor cognitive development.

2. Wasting: An indicator of severe malnutrition, leading to weakened immune systems and increased vulnerability to diseases.

3. Overweight: Risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.

4. Underweight: Heightened risk of death and impaired growth.

Causes of India’s Nutrition Paradox

India's nutrition paradox stems from a mix of systemic issues:

1. Persistent Poverty and Inequality:

   • Malnutrition remains concentrated among socio-economically marginalized communities, especially in rural and tribal areas.

2. Inadequate Dietary Diversity:

   • While calories may be sufficient, India struggles with hidden hunger, due to a lack of access to micronutrients (fruits, vegetables, proteins).

3. High Food Prices:

   • Inflation of nutrient-dense foods such as milk, pulses, and fruits makes healthy diets unaffordable for many.

4. Health Service Gaps:

   • Primary health systems lack adequate services, including antenatal care, anaemia screening, and nutrition counseling.

5. Nutrition Transition:

   • Urbanization and increased incomes have shifted diets towards processed foods, contributing to rising obesity rates among both children and adults.

India’s Current Schemes on Food and Nutritional Security

India has several initiatives aimed at improving food security and nutrition:

1. Public Distribution System (PDS):

   • As of 2025, covers over 80 crore people, with nearly 100% automation of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) to ensure transparent food grain delivery.

2. PM POSHAN:

   • Provides mid-day meals to school children, aimed at improving both nutrition and school attendance.

3. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY):

   • Ensures 5 kg of free foodgrains per month to 81.35 crore people, extended until 2029.

4. POSHAN Abhiyaan:

   • Aimed at reducing malnutrition among women, children, and adolescents, with over 10 crore beneficiaries by 2024.

5. PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME):

   • Supports micro food enterprises, creating 1.88 lakh jobs and setting up 54,000 units by 2023-24.

6. Price Stabilization Efforts:

   • Efforts like buffer stocks and subsidized Bharat food products (e.g., rice, dal, atta) help keep essential food items affordable.

Strategies Needed to Tackle India’s Nutritional Paradox

1. Invest in Local Food Systems:

   • Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and local food processing units should be supported. Strengthening agricultural market information systems can help manage price fluctuations.

2. Improve Dietary Diversity:

   • Promote the cultivation of millets (Shree Anna) and region-specific crops. Encourage kitchen gardens to diversify diets and enhance nutritional security.

3. Combat Anaemia:

   • Expand initiatives like Anaemia Mukt Bharat with iron-folic acid supplementation, deworming, and therapeutic dosing.

4. Address Obesity and Promote Healthy Lifestyles:

   • Implement a Suposhan Abhiyan to tackle both undernutrition and obesity. Encourage mindful eating and promote physical activity.

   • Consider taxing junk food, subsidizing healthy foods, and integrating nutrition education in schools.

5. Strengthen Food Access for Migrant Workers:

   • Expand the One Nation, One Ration Card scheme to ensure food security for migrant workers across India.

Conclusion

India's nutritional paradox presents a dual challenge of rising malnutrition, including undernutrition (stunting, wasting) and overnutrition (obesity). Addressing this requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on improving dietary diversity, enhancing nutritional programs, and tackling poverty and inequality. The SOFI 2025 report highlights the ongoing challenges and provides a roadmap for improving global food security, with India needing to invest more in local food systems, health services, and sustainable agricultural practices to combat malnutrition effectively.