India’s hunger paradox: Self-sufficiency in production does not necessarily mean food security

Source- The post is based on the article “India’s hunger paradox: Self-sufficiency in production does not necessarily mean food security” published in “The Indian Express” on 2nd May 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Poverty and hunger

Relevance– Assessment of malnutrition and hunger

News– As per fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data, 18% of children between ages 6-23 months, did not eat any food whatsoever in the 24 hours preceding the survey.

What are other statistics provided by NFHS5 related to food intake by children?

The zero-food prevalence was 30 % for infants aged 6-11 months, remains worryingly high at 13% among the 12-17 months old, and persists even among 18-23 months-old children at 8%.

More than 80% had not consumed any protein-rich foods for an entire day.

Close to 40% did not eat any grains for an entire day, and six out of 10 children do not consume milk or dairy of any form every day.

What are the dietary requirements of children?

According to the World Health Organisation, at six months of age, 33% of the daily calorie intake is expected to come from food. This proportion increases to 61% at 12 months of age.

The recommended calorie percentages mentioned here are the minimum amount that should come from food. It is presumed that the child obtains the remaining calories through breastfeeding.

Consequently, the percentage of food-sourced calories only increases further when a child cannot receive breast milk when needed.

What are issues with NFHS surveys to assess the nutritional deprivation among the Indian population?

The assessment of the extent of nutritional deprivation among young children in India has relied on measures such as stunting, wasting, compared to a reference population.

These measures suggest overall deficiencies in the child’s environment, without any guidance on the specific nature of the deficiencies.

Due to several factors that cause stunting or wasting among children, it is challenging for any single ministry, or department of the Government to take responsibility for designing, implementing and monitoring policies to reduce undernutrition among children.

The well-documented intergenerational linkages between child stunting and parental height, makes it a problematic policy metric for evaluating the effectiveness of current programmes and interventions.

How can NFHS survey be improved to assess nutrition related metrics?

There is a need to improve the NFHS surveys. The 24-hour recall questions on consumption of various food items are currently asked only of the most recently born children under the age of two. It should be systematically extended to children under five years.

Questions for adults should also be based on a 24-hour recall following similar food items as the children’s questions.

To better understand food security for all populations in India, assessments using household-level food insecurity modules developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation can be adapted.

What is the way forward to tackle the issues of hunger and malnutrition in India?

The rising burden of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases in India is strongly linked to diet and nutrition. A national effort to establish routine dietary and nutritional assessments for the entire population is the need of the hour.

Measuring the availability, accessibility and affordability of nutritious food constitutes the foundation for any evidence-based policy to end hunger and improve nutritional security among Indians.

India must achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 of “zero hunger”, by 2030. The Mission Poshan 2.0  programme is dedicated to it. However, to effectively monitor and assess the performance of Poshan 2.0, there is an immediate need to develop appropriate food-based metrics.

India should consider a strategic initiative led by the Prime Minister’s Office aimed at eliminating food insecurity in India. It should  ensure affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children.