The "hunger tipping point" refers to a critical, irreversible food system collapse caused by climate change, conflict, and economic shocks. India, a key global player in the fight against hunger, must leverage its institutional strengths to build resilient, sustainable, and farmer-centric food systems.
Copyright infringement not intended
Picture Courtesy: PIB
Global agricultural leaders, policymakers, scientists, and farmers assembled in New Delhi for DialogueNEXT 2025, hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation, to discuss Hunger Tipping Point.
The term "Hunger Tipping Point" refers to a time when a combination of factors, such as climate change, conflict, and population growth, could overwhelm the world's food systems, leading to a severe and potentially irreversible increase in global hunger and malnutrition.
Rapid population growth: Global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 (UN's 2024 report), requiring a massive increase in food production.
Climate change impacts: Extreme weather events, decreased crop productivity, and disruptions to the agricultural ecosystem are making food production increasingly unreliable.
Environmental degradation: Factors such as soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and water shortages are further straining food systems.
Conflict and instability: Wars, economic shocks, and social inequality exacerbate food insecurity and make populations more vulnerable to hunger.
Call for transformative action
In January 2025, over 150 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates issued a letter titled "Hunger's Tipping Point: An Urgent Call to Transform Food and Nutrition Security" urged global leaders, scientists, and policymakers to invest in initiatives to revolutionize agriculture, including:
Escalating conflict
Worsening food crises: In 2024, the number of people facing acute food insecurity rose to 295 million across 53 countries, with conflict being a primary driver. (UNICEF)
Disrupted supply chains: Conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the military operation in Gaza, have disrupted vital food supply routes.
Weaponization of food: Starvation is increasingly used as a weapon of war (eg. Israel in Gaza), blocking aid and destroying food resources in conflict zones.
Economic hardship
Rising food costs: Global food prices remain high, due to economic shocks, supply chain disruptions, and the rising cost of agricultural inputs like fertilizer and energy.
Eroding purchasing power: Higher food prices disproportionately affect low-income households, increasing the number of people who cannot afford a healthy diet.
Stagnant rural income: Many small-scale farmers earn less than half the income of larger producers, and this gap remains a significant challenge. (Sustainable Development Goals Report)
Climate and environmental threats
Climate-induced disasters: Extreme weather events like floods and droughts destroy crops, and push food production into uncertain territory, threatening the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Soil degradation and biodiversity loss: Decades of intense farming have degraded soil quality, while biodiversity loss reduces the resilience of food systems to pests, diseases, and climate shocks.
Water scarcity: Agriculture is the largest user of water globally, and its depletion puts immense long-term pressure on food systems.
Rooted inequalities
Deepening disparities: Deepening inequalities, both within and between countries, contribute to rising food insecurity.
Gender inequality: Women and girls continue to face disproportionate impacts from food crises, often eating less or last during shortages.
Rural-urban divide: Food insecurity is higher in rural areas, where over a third of the population experiences moderate or severe food insecurity, compared to urban areas.
Poor nutrition and health
Malnutrition persists: Despite some progress, malnutrition remains a major global concern. In 2022, 149 million children were stunted and 45 million suffered from wasting. (WHO)
Obesity on the rise: Adult and childhood obesity rates are rising steadily, creating a "double burden of malnutrition" alongside undernutrition.
Health and sanitation issues: Poor sanitation and healthcare services increase susceptibility to diseases that worsen malnutrition.
Malnutrition and affordability
Triple burden of malnutrition: India faces a three-pronged challenge of undernutrition (wasting and stunting), micronutrient deficiencies ("hidden hunger"), and rising overweight and obesity rates.
Highest child wasting rate: India had the world's highest child wasting rate in 2024, with 18.7% of children under five affected.
Dietary costs: In 2024, the UN reported that 42.9% of Indians could not afford a healthy diet.
Systemic and economic issues
Inefficient food systems: Despite improvements from digitization, the Public Distribution System (PDS) still faces exclusion errors and supply chain leakages.
Overemphasis on cereals: Policies focused on cereal production have led to dietary imbalances, neglecting more nutritious crops like pulses, fruits, and vegetables.
High post-harvest losses: Inadequate storage and cold chain facilities result in substantial food waste and financial losses for farmers.
Environmental threats
Climate vulnerability: Extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and heatwaves threaten crop yields, endangering food supply and farmers' livelihoods.
Soil and water stress: Unsustainable farming practices, including excessive use of chemical fertilizers, have led to soil degradation and depletion of groundwater.
Social welfare and nutrition
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): Provides free foodgrains to approximately 81 crore beneficiaries until December 2028.
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: Legally guarantees subsidized foodgrains to two-thirds of the population.
One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC): Enables nationwide portability of ration cards, allowing beneficiaries to access subsidized food from any Fair Price Shop.
PM POSHAN Scheme: Provides hot, cooked midday meals in schools to enhance children's nutritional status.
Fortified rice: Fortified rice, enriched with micronutrients, is distributed through welfare schemes like the PDS to combat malnutrition.
Bharat Brand Subsidized Food: Offers subsidized wheat flour (Bharat Atta) and pulses (Bharat Dal) through government channels to manage food inflation and ensure affordability.
Agricultural resilience and sustainability
National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): A standalone scheme promoting chemical-free natural farming to improve soil health and climate resilience.
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): Develops and promotes climate-resilient farming techniques and stress-tolerant crops.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Features the "Per Drop More Crop" initiative to improve water use efficiency through micro-irrigation.
Millets Promotion ("Shree Anna"): India advocates for millets as a nutritious and climate-resilient food, promoting their production and consumption.
Move beyond staples: Transition from a cereal-centric model to a diversified, high-value agricultural system focused on fruits, vegetables, pulses, and millets ("Shree Anna").
Integrate nutritional focus: Enhance existing food schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS) by including more nutritious food options beyond just rice and wheat.
Promote natural farming: Expand and strengthen the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) and related schemes to reduce reliance on chemical inputs and improve soil health.
Enhance water management: Scale up micro-irrigation and water conservation efforts through schemes like "Per Drop More Crop" under PMKSY to address water scarcity.
Accelerate Agri-tech adoption: Promote the use of affordable digital tools like AI, drones, and IoT sensors for precision farming, pest management, and real-time advisory.
Boost post-harvest infrastructure: Accelerate investment through the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to expand cold storage, warehouses, and processing units, significantly reducing post-harvest losses.
Launch targeted awareness campaigns: Use platforms like the "Eat Right India" movement to promote healthy, sustainable, and diverse eating habits among the population.
Improve last-mile delivery: Strengthen the last-mile delivery of food and nutritional schemes, focusing on better monitoring and community involvement, especially in remote areas.
Ensure gender equity: Focus on empowering women farmers by ensuring equal access to credit, land ownership, and extension services.
Source: PIB
|
PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Despite significant economic growth, India continues to grapple with persistent undernutrition and hunger. Critically Analyze. 150 words |
It is a critical threshold where multiple factors combine to make a food system collapse, leading to widespread, irreversible hunger and instability.
Climate change acts as a primary stressor, causing extreme weather events and disrupting agricultural cycles, which in turn exacerbates food insecurity.
It is a form of malnutrition that occurs when a person's diet lacks essential vitamins and minerals, even if they consume enough calories.
© 2025 iasgyan. All right reserved
