Make Agriculture Nutrition-Sensitive to Address Malnutrition: President M. Venkaiah Naidu

President M. Venkaiah Naidu called for making agriculture nutrition-sensitive to address the persisting malnutrition in our country at unacceptable levels on Sunday.

President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday accused about persisting malnutrition in the country at unacceptable levels and called for making agriculture nutrition-sensitive to address the problem.

There is no improvement despite the efforts //taken by successive governments at Centre and in various states, which is "quite distressing," he said while addressing the National Consultation on Leveraging Agriculture for Nutrition organized by MS Swaminathan Research Foundation.

Malnutrition - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Malnutrition refers to imbalances in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients and can occur due to an excess consumption of nutrients or a lack of nutrients.

‘President M. Venkaiah Naidu stated that despite the efforts of the government there is no improvement in malnutrition prevailing in the country and called for making agriculture nutrition-sensitive to address the problem.’

"A considerable section of the population in our country suffers from malnutrition consisting of under-nutrition, hidden hunger caused by micronutrient deficiencies and obesity...We must make agriculture nutrition-sensitive, and it is critical that we explicitly make this vital connection between agriculture and nutrition," he said, as per a release.

His remarks came against the backdrop of three sisters that were found to have starved to death in east Delhi and doctors held severe malnutrition as the main cause for their deaths.

India stood a poor 100th among 119 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) that was released in October last year.

Marasmus | Protein-Energy Malnutrition - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Marasmus is a severe potentially life-threatening form of malnutrition caused by a diet deficient in calories and proteins. There is significant wasting of fats, muscles, and tissues of the body leading to a "skin and bones" appearance.

Naidu further said the central government had adopted The National Nutrition Strategy, which recognizes the imperative need to have a relook at the agriculture policy.

He said Indian agriculture must diversify food production by moving away from mono-cropping of major cereals to a system that integrates a variety of food items including small millets, pulses, fruits, and vegetables.

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Obesity is the root cause of problems like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and gall bladder disease. A serious look at our strategies is needed to tackle this fast growing epidemic.

"Millets like Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and small millets like Kutki, Kodo, Sawa, Kangni, and Cheena are known to be nutrient-rich. Since the cultivation of millets requires less water, efforts must be to promote their cultivation as part of crop rotation," he said.

Naidu said that government, civil society, scientists and researchers must share knowledge and expertise with farmers to make agriculture sustainable and nutrition-rich.

Source-IANS