India’s Nutrition Crisis and the Need for Food System Transformation

Sprouting sustainable, nutrition-sensitive food systems

Context:

India, despite being one of the world’s largest producers of milk, fruits, vegetables, grains, and livestock, faces a paradoxical crisis — a nation rich in food production yet grappling with severe nutritional challenges.

More on News

• These include undernutrition, overnutrition, and widespread micronutrient deficiencies, all of which threaten the country’s demographic dividend and economic resilience. 
• India ranks  105 out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2024, India’s food insecurity demands urgent and comprehensive action.

A Disturbing Nutritional Landscape

• Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019–21, reveal a deeply troubling scenario:
  • 194 million Indians are undernourished.
  • Among children under five:
    • 35.5% are stunted (low height-for-age),
    • 32.1% are underweight (low weight-for-age),
    • 19.3% suffer from wasting (low weight-for-height).
  • At the same time, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is rising — affecting 24% of women and 22.9% of men. 
  • Additionally, 57% of women of reproductive age are anaemic, indicating the widespread presence of “hidden hunger” — micronutrient deficiencies that often go unnoticed but have significant health consequences.
• Globally, failures in food systems result in losses of nearly $12 trillion annually through health burdens, poor nutrition, and environmental degradation.  For India — a country vulnerable to climate change and resource constraints — such a trajectory is not sustainable. 
• However, within this challenge lies a unique opportunity: to transform the food system around the principles of nutrition, sustainability, and equity, thereby supporting national well-being and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Evolving Nature of Food Insecurity

• Today, food insecurity goes beyond hunger to include all forms of malnutrition, especially diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Millions of people, including food producers, struggle to afford a nutritious diet.  According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO):
  • 55.6% of Indians cannot afford healthy food.
  • The cost of a nutritious diet increased from $2.86 (PPP) per person/day in 2017 to $3.36 in 2022.
• Structural flaws in India’s food systems, exacerbated by climate change, reduce crop yields, threaten biodiversity, and endanger the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. 
• These systemic issues deepen nutritional vulnerabilities. Without effective intervention, malnutrition will continue to erode human capital, inflate healthcare costs, and stifle economic productivity.

A Blueprint for Food System Transformation

• To address this multidimensional crisis, India needs a bold, integrated, and sustained strategy that transforms its food systems to be nutrition-sensitive, sustainable, and inclusive. 
• This transformation must be multi-sectoral, involving government, businesses, communities, and the health and nutrition sectors.

Key strategies include:

• Nutrition-sensitive agriculture: Agricultural policies must integrate nutrition goals. This involves promoting climate-resilient and biofortified crops, increasing crop diversity, and improving post-harvest storage and processing to ensure food security and enhance dietary quality.
• Community-led initiatives: Models like the Nutrition-Sensitive Community Planning (NSCP) empower local communities to tackle key nutrition determinants, such as soil and water conservation, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and access to healthcare, through participatory, bottom-up approaches.
• School-based nutrition programmes: Initiatives such as Nutri-Pathshala combat childhood malnutrition by incorporating biofortified grains into school meals and supporting local agriculture by sourcing food from nearby farmers.
• Strengthening social safety nets: Enhancing the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meal schemes with nutrient-rich, indigenous foods can ensure better access to nutritious meals for vulnerable populations. Behaviour change campaigns must complement these by encouraging healthy dietary practices.
• Private sector engagement: Businesses need to move beyond traditional food production and prioritise nutrition. 
  • This includes adopting clearer food labelling, using digital tools like QR codes for consumer education, and innovating in fortification and the development of plant-based, nutrient-dense foods. These efforts should be supported by appropriate regulations and incentives.
• Climate and economic resilience: Climate-smart agriculture, gender-sensitive policies, and expanded rural economic opportunities are critical to building resilience against climate and economic shocks.
• Widespread awareness and education: Grassroots campaigns using interactive tools like the ‘MyPlate Blast Off’ game and community radio programs can spread nutritional awareness, particularly in regions with limited digital access.

Place-Based Innovation and Localised Solutions

• To achieve SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), place-based innovation is essential. Research by TERI and the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) in the Himalayas highlights:
  • Use of micronutrient-rich, region-specific crops
  • Decentralised food processing systems
  • Creation of local food networks that connect farmers, processors, and consumers
• Such socio-technical innovation bundles can enhance nutrition security while promoting local economic development.

The Pivotal Role of Health and Nutrition Sectors

• Nutritionists, public health professionals, and policymakers must collaborate to embed nutrition considerations into agriculture and economic planning. 
• Systemic approaches are needed to address the dual burdens of malnutrition and NCDs, along with underlying inequalities and climate vulnerabilities.
• Models like NSCP and Nutri-Pathshala illustrate the power of integrating nutrition with agriculture, education, and social development. They serve as blueprints for a holistic approach to food systems reform.

The Time to Act Is Now

• India stands at a critical crossroads. Incremental change is no longer enough. A bold, coordinated transformation of food systems is necessary to combat malnutrition in all its forms. This requires:
  • Governments to align policy with nutrition priorities,
  • Businesses to adopt sustainable, nutrition-focused practices,
  • Civil society to mobilise inclusive, community-driven solutions.
• Nutrition must be the guiding principle in shaping our food systems, economies, and national policies. A well-nourished population is the cornerstone of a resilient, equitable society.