World Food Day | 16 Oct 2019

World Food Day is observed annually on October 16 to address the problem of global hunger.

• The theme for 2019 is ‘Our Actions are our Future; Healthy Diets for a #ZeroHunger World’.
  
  • Achieving Zero Hunger is not only about addressing hunger, but also nourishing people while nurturing the planet.
• It emphasizes the Second Sustainable Goal (SDG 2) i.e. Zero hunger.
• The initiative aims to eradicate hunger as well as to address all types of malnutrition including obesity.
  
  • According to the Global Burden of Disease Study (2017) by the University of Washington, malnutrition is among the leading causes of death and disability in India.
  • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that about 14.5% of the total population of India are undernourished.
  • The Global Hunger Index 2018 ranks India 103 out of 119 countries on the basis of three leading indicators:
    
    • The prevalence of wasting and stunting in children under five years of age.
    • Child mortality rate under five years of age
    • The proportion of undernourished in the population.
• World Food Day, 2019 calls for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone.
  
  • At the same time, it aims to make everyone aware of nutritious dietary habits.

Source: TH