The Worst Form of Violence
Food & Nutrition
CREATED
06 Apr 2023
www.syne.com/story/the-worst-form-of-vio...
Mahatma Gandhi famously said ‘Poverty is the worst form of Violence’ – with hunger the most obvious and basic result of poverty. It is said that none should have to go hungry, especially in a world with as much wealth as ours – but sadly 1 out of 9 people on earth do not have enough to eat.
Hunger is a complex problem with many root causes other than poverty – there are regional issues and climate changes which cause hunger. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but we can all bring an end to world hunger and create opportunities to create systemic change.
The United Nations has drawn ‘Zero Hunger’ as an important Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030.
The goal recognizes hunger requires a multi-dimensional approach and there is a need to address the root causes - poverty, inequality, conflict, and climate change, improving access to food, promoting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious and sufficient food. With an objective to "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture", the SDG goal aims to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by 2030 and ensure everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food.
The world needs to work together to Increase agricultural productivity and ensure nutrition in the food. There is a need to ensure equitable access to land, water etc as well as reduce food waste and losses in the food supply chain. Last but not least, there is an immediate need to address the root causes of hunger – viz. poverty, conflict, and climate change.
Many countries are making concentrated efforts to achieve zero hunger. According to the Global Hunger Index 2022, India ranks 107 out of 121 countries in terms of hunger and malnutrition. The Indian government has launched several programs to combat hunger, such as the National Food Security Act, which aims to provide subsidized food grains to around two-thirds of the country's population. The government has called in for active participation from private as well as general public which has been yielding rich dividends.
Initiatives by NGO to feed the needy
Roti Bank describes itself as dreamers of a new India with zero hunger and malnutrition, where no Indian goes to bed empty stomach. Established in 2017 in Mumbai it is a non-profit, hunger relief organization initiated by Roti Foundation Mumbai and strives to eliminate hunger and malnutrition.
The NGO functions by cooking fresh meals in the Roti Bank Kitchen and delivering them to thousands of hungry people who live in slums or on the footpath. It functions by collecting funds, rations, fruits, and vegetables from donors. It provides freshly cooked mid-day meals to ensure children go to school regularly and provides fresh meals outside hospitals, destitute homes, educational institutions, cancer centres, in the slums of Mumbai, and various other locations.
Corporate initiatives
India needs concerted efforts to address the issue of hunger and this made Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vital in achieving SDG 2 in India. With continuous efforts by the Indian Governments, Corporates have come forward to support Sustainable Agriculture, a vital sector in India, providing livelihoods to millions of people and playing a critical role in the country’s food security.
Corporates have also invested in programs to tackle malnutrition, a significant challenge in India, with high levels of stunting and wasting among children.
Smallholder farmers are an essential part of the food system in India, producing a significant share of the country’s food. Companies have made investments in initiatives that support smallholder farmers viz. Farmer-producer organizations, agri-extension services, and access to markets.
Companies have collaborated with stakeholders, such as the government, civil society organizations, and academia, to achieve SDG 2 and aligned themselves to initiatives with national priorities, leverage resources and expertise, and ensure a more significant impact.
Biochar
Stubble burning is an alarming issue in the northern states of India with about 150 million tons of CO2 emitted annually, bringing severe concerns to humans and soil health. PepsiCo India, has initiated a regenerative agriculture practice (‘Biochar Program‘) wherein crop residue is burnt at high temperatures under a limited or low supply of oxygen which helps in decomposition.
Once the process is completed, the end product Biochar is used as a soil additive to increase the carbon content in the soil. Biochar contains carbon and increases the uptake of nutrients and improves water retention while activating microorganisms in the soil and is an effective solution to manage stubble and in turn, improves soil health texture and water holding capacity. Biochar production also helps in a 40-70% reduction in Green House Gases (GHG).
The joint efforts of the Indian government with civil society organizations and private sector has ensured that initiatives are coordinated and aligned with national priorities. Investments in sustainable agriculture, improving access to nutritious food, supporting smallholder farmers, collaborating with other stakeholders by corporates have created a more sustainable and equitable food system.
Corporate philanthropy has played a critical role in achieving SDG 2 in India – and is an example which can be successfully replicated by the world.