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Source-This post on Investing in Nutritious Food Value Chains has been created based on the article “Nutrition investments in agri-food sector can reduce gender inequalities: Report” published in “Down to Earth” on 3 August 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3- Food Processing and Related Industries
Context– The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), a Swiss foundation, has released a report titled “The Case for Investment in Nutritious Foods Value Chains: An Opportunity for Gender Impact.” The FAO notes that globally, women make up 38% of agri-food workers, with 66% in sub-Saharan Africa and 71% in South Asia, including India.
GAIN’s report focuses on six food value chains from a gender perspective: cashew nuts and poultry in Sub-Saharan Africa, aquaculture and quinoa in Latin America, and tomatoes and dairy in South Asia. In Africa, the world’s largest cashew producer, only 10% of cashew processing is local, with women mainly handling shelling and sorting manually.
What difficulties do women encounter in the field of agriculture?
1) Limited access to key assets, resources, and services, including land, inputs, finance, extension services, and technology.
2) Discriminatory social norms and legal frameworks.
3) Restricted financial independence.
4) Vulnerability to risky employment conditions and gender-based violence.
What is the 2X Criteria?
Updated in June 2024, the ‘2X Criteria’ is a standardized framework for investing with a focus on gender equality. It sets the global standard for evaluating and structuring investments that support women by offering leadership roles, quality jobs, financial services, business support, and products that boost their economic participation and access.
Read More- Zero-food children
What is the significance of making investment in Nutrition?
1) Nutritious Food Systems- Investing in nutritious food systems strengthens food value chains and boosts business resilience. It also improves supplier productivity and workforce loyalty by attracting and retaining women, which enhances diversity at all levels in agribusinesses.
2) Improving Women’s Access to Resources – The FAO reports that better access to resources for women can increase farm yields by 20 to 30 percent. This boosts women’s economic empowerment, improves global food security, and leads to better household and child nutrition.
3) Closing Gender Gaps in Agriculture – Fixing gender gaps in farm productivity and wages could boost global GDP by 1 percent, or nearly $1 trillion, according to last year’s Status of Women in Agri-Food Systems report.
Question for practice
What are the challenges faced by the women? What is the significance of making investment in Nutrition?
