India’s agriculture and food security policies, thus, are now going beyond the calorie sufficiency approach towards ensuring access to a nutritionally balanced and diverse diet. One of the key drivers of this change is the expansion of the modern food retail industry, valued at $380 billion, during the last decade.
How does agriculture affect nutrition in India?
The literature suggests that Indian agriculture has a range of important influences on nutrition. Agriculture seems to influence diets even when controlling for income, and relative food prices could partly explain observed dietary changes in recent decades. The evidence on agriculture-gender linkages to nutrition is relatively weak.
What are the pathways to nutritional impact of Agriculture?
Three pathways pertain to the nutritional impacts of farm production, farm incomes, and food prices. The other three pertain to agriculture-gender linkages. After an extensive search, we found 78 research papers that provided evidence to populate these pathways.
Can the agriculture sector accelerate the reduction of undernutrition?
Given its importance for income generation, improving diets, care practices, and maternal health, the agriculture sector is widely regarded as playing an important role in accelerating the reduction in undernutrition.
What is the role of agriculture in food and nutrition security?
Physical and economic access to adequate and affordable nutritious food is primarily a function of the agriculture sector, through support to increased production, improved post-harvest storage and processing (including food safety issues such as aflatoxin control), and reduced transport costs which can lower food …
How does agriculture affect nutrition?
From increasing the availability of total calories, to specific measures on nutrient deficiencies, agriculture can play an important role in addressing nutrition security. Biofortified foods are bred to have higher amounts of micronutrients and can help provide essential vitamins and minerals.
What is nutrition security and why is it important?
Nutrition security means access to adequate utilisation and absorption of nutrients in food to be able to live a healthy and active life. Availability, access and utilisation are important for both food and nutrient securities.
What is the role of government in nutrition?
It is a government responsibility to provide clear information on foods and nutrition. Rational government involvement can lead to better nutrition for the population whilst stimulating an efficient agricultural industry.
How does agriculture improve the nutrition of a family?
Traditionally, agricultural interventions have focused on increasing food production and raising incomes to reduce malnutrition, hunger and poverty. Although this remains part of a valid approach, it is now recognized that higher levels of production and income alone have limited impact on improving nutrition.
What is nutrition in agricultural science?
Nutrition is defined as the science of feeding and nourishing the body. It is the series of processes by which an organism takes in or ingests, digests and assimilates food for promoting growth and for the replacement of worn out tissues.
What is meant by nutrition security?
Nutritional security is defined as “a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”
What is food security and nutrition security?
“Food and nutrition security exists when all people at all times have physical, social and economic access to food, which is consumed in sufficient quantity and quality to meet their dietary needs and food preferences, and is supported by an environment of adequate sanitation, health services and care, allowing for a …
What is sustainable nutrition security?
One key strategy in nutrition-sensitive agricultural development is the “food- based” approach, which is aimed at increasing the availability Page 16 Sustainable nutrition security – Restoring the bridge between agriculture and health 12 and consumption of the diverse range of foods necessary for a healthy diet.
What is the role of government in food security in India?
The role of the government in providing food security involves: (i) Promoting domestic production to meet the demands of the growing population. ADVERTISEMENTS: (ii) Providing minimum support prices for procurement and storage of food grains.
What are the role of government in agriculture?
Many governments in developing countries attempt to foster agricultural development and innovation by setting up funding facilities, extension programs, and research centers and by subsidizing private-sector and farm activities through fiscal measures.
What is the role of government in food production?
Roles of Government and Non-Governmental Organizations in Agricultural Development The roles of government in agricultural production include Formation of and execution of policies A key role of the government is the formulation and execution of plans, as well as defining the aims and objectives of the agricultural …