“A psychologist would probably diagnose insanity for a nation that spends more on its military than the next 8 nations combined, while its poor are starving.”

― Steven Magee

Such is the warped state of the world we are currently living in- hunger persists to be a major problem menacing the world even today, in the 21st century. The United Nations sustainable development goals were borne out of the need to list out the global goals to be achieved in order to create a world that can be passed onto future generations. The need to introduce the concept of sustainability arises from the fact that in the last few decades, economic development has been increasingly dividing the world. Globally, the proportion of undernourished people in developing regions has fallen by almost half since 1990, from 23.3% in 1990-1992 to 12.9% in 2014-2016. As per FAO estimates, 2017 saw the third consecutive rise in world hunger, with the absolute number of undernourished people i.e. those facing chronic food deprivation increasing to 821 million. More than one in every 10 people in the world are undernourished. Asia’s decreasing trend in undernourishment seems to be slowing down significantly, with 515 million deemed undernourished in 2017. Unless we profoundly rethink global food and agricultural systems, it is estimated that the number of hungry people worldwide could drastically climb by 2050.

It is very important to assess the problem in the correct manner- the factor standing in the way of its non-resolution is not shortage of food grain, but instead blockades in its production process and then its distribution as well. Goal 2 of the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda aims to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition, and double agricultural productivity in the next 15 years. Ensuring this sustainable access to nutritious food universally entails sustainable food production and agricultural practices. The agricultural sector of India, an extremely pivotal primary sector, which once served as an employment generator for the masses of India has taken several hits over the last few years. If done right, agriculture and forests can become sources of decent incomes for the global population, the engines of rural development, and our vanguard against climate change. Farmers are still rooted in outdated practices with little to no required knowledge in order to manoeuvre the constantly changing seas of the economy. South Asia still faces one of the greatest hunger burdens, with over 15% of the population considered undernourished. The agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector constitutes 26.5% of total employment in the world, but 42.7% in India. However, these sectors contribute only 15.5% to GDP value added. The Government of India has prioritised strengthening agriculture through measures in irrigation, crop insurance, and improved varieties.

Food security is a concept that India as well as the world has largely struggled with. Although India produces enough grain that a large amount has ended up rotting in the godowns of FCI, eradicating hunger remains a large challenge prevalent in growing forms. The government has also taken critical steps to enhance food security, including through an India-wide targeted public distribution system, a National Nutrition Mission and the National Food Security Act. The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture and many national schemes on horticulture, agricultural technology and livestock are leading the way in improving India’s agriculture.

We, here at GGB, have been striving to implement the mid-day meal format program targeting slum areas, and trying to source this food through the food wasted at eateries nearby to do our bit towards achieving this goal. Working to improve food and has a multi-fold advantage and helps in the attainment of the other 16 Sustainable Development Goals, as it can help combat climate change, reinforce economic growth, and contribute to peace and stability in societies around the world. Currently our soils, fresh water, oceans, forests, and biodiversity are being rapidly degraded. Climate change is making us exploit the resources we need for many coming years, and increasing risks associated with natural disasters. Building ourselves to be ready to lobby for prevention of natural disasters will be an important part of the global fight against hunger, as crises exacerbate food insecurity issues in countries affected by them. Ununiform growth in the world has led to the divide between the rich and poor widening to an extent where we live in a world where millions are spent on cutting edge science and technology constantly cutting down on the tiniest form of human labour- yet we have still not been able to figure out how to ensure the entire population has access to the most basic amenity required for life: food. Bridging this gap is an agenda GGB has been pursuing in order to make the world a more accessible and fulfilled one.

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