World Food Day | 17 Oct 2022

Why in News?

World Food Day is celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on 16^th October 1945.

• FAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

What are the Key Highlights of World Food Day 2022?

• About:
  • It is observed annually to address the problem of global hunger.
  • It emphasises Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) i.e., Zero Hunger.
• Theme: Leave No One Behind.
• Significance:
  • As a global community, we each have a role to play in bringing forward those left behind by making our agrifood systems more inclusive and sustainable.
  • Promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure healthy diets for all.
  • Many awareness initiatives are also held to educate people about malnutrition and obesity, both of which cause major health consequences.

What is the Status of Global Hunger according to Various Reports?

• The Hunger Hotspots Outlook (2022-23), a report by the FAO and World Food Programme (WFP) — forebodes escalating hunger, as over 205 million people across 45 countries will need emergency food assistance to survive.
• The Global Report on Food Crises 2022 released in May by the Global Network against Food Crises underscored that about 180 million people across 40 countries will face inescapable food insecurity.
• Global Hunger Report, 2022: Globally, the progress against hunger has largely stagnated in recent years, with a global score of 18.2 in 2022 as compared to 19.1 in 2014, there is only a slight improvement,
  • Barring war-torn Afghanistan, India has performed worse than all the countries in the South Asian region in the the Global Hunger Index 2022.
    • It has ranked 107 out of 121 countries.

What are the Related Indian Initiatives?

• Eat Right India and Fit India Movement along with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission and other efforts will improve the health of Indians and heal the environment.
• Introduction of 17 new biofortified varieties of crops to overcome the shortcomings of the common variety of crops which lacks important micronutrients.
  • Example: MACS 4028 Wheat, Madhuban Gajar, etc.
• Increased ambit and effective implementation of the Food Security Act, 2013.
• Amendments to the APMC (agricultural produce market committee) Acts to make them more competitive.
• Steps to ensure that farmers get one and a half times the cost as Minimum Support Price (MSP), which along with the government procurement, is an important part of ensuring the country's food security.
• Development of a large network of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
• Amendments in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to deal with the issue of grain wastage in India.
• The government is making efforts to make India Trans Fat free by 2022, a year ahead of the World Health Organisation (WHO) target, in synergy with the vision of New India @75 (75 years of India’s independence).
  • Trans Fat is a food toxin present in Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (PHVOs) (e.g., vanaspati, shortening, margarine, etc.), baked and fried foods.
• FAO supported India's proposal to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
• For improving food access, especially for vulnerable populations, the Government of India drives programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

Source: TH