Hinderance to the convergence of Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition!

Identifying critical barriers while scaling the convergence between Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition through institutional procurement in public food programmes

Sustainable Nutrition is scaled through a life cycle approach, focusing on the elementary elements that could build a nutrition-based mental model. Better access to family planning, greater women's role in household decision-making, improved childcare and nutrition practices, access to fresh water and better sanitation, and a more affordable food system for people experiencing poverty are essential components of a life cycle approach to improved Nutrition.

Upon reviewing existing studies, reports, articles and case studies, while also talking to a lot of individuals in the value chain from the Indian Ecosystem, I could deduce an understanding of the possible factors that are hindering the convergence between Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition.

1. Food Availability and Accessibility: There have been instances where consumers reduced millet consumption and switched to rice due to lack of availability. It can be inferred that with easier food access, consumption of staple foods is reduced, and consumption of other foods is increased. Factors such as seasonality and market access were the latent reasons why food availability and accessibility were barriers.
2. Economic Constraint and Affordability: In some studies, compared to the poorest households, the wealthiest families were 3.7 times more likely to consume dairy, nearly twice as likely to consume animal-source foods, and 5 times more likely to consume dark green leafy vegetables. Women did not consume directed foods due to lack of money.
3. Interoperability among sectors: The functional organisation of many governments allocates responsibilities according to allocated social or productive sectors, which generally does not lend itself to actions that require coordination between sectors.
4. Information, Education and Communication: Studies revealed a discrepancy in awareness about Nutrition and sustainability among stakeholders, including policymakers, procurement officers, and food service providers. Many consumers lack knowledge about the policies and guidance in selecting nutritious and sustainable food options that meet dietary requirements while minimising environmental impact.
5. Adulteration: Adulterated food products often contain harmful substances that can pose serious health risks to consumers. This undermines the goal of providing nutritious and safe food through public programs, potentially leading to adverse health effects among beneficiaries.
6. Inadequate storage: Many institutions participating in public food programs, especially in rural or underdeveloped areas, lack adequate storage infrastructure. This includes cold storage facilities for perishable items like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products and dry storage areas for grains, pulses, and other staples.
7. Lack of Maternal Education and Knowledge Transfer: Mothers with higher education or at least 6 years of schooling were likelier to have higher dietary diversity than illiterate mothers. Higher literacy was associated with consuming special foods such as milk and animal-source foods during pregnancy.
8. Fair pricing: Fair pricing ensures that all participants in the food supply chain receive a fair share of the economic benefits generated by food production and distribution. Inequitable pricing practices, such as price manipulation or exploitation of market power by certain actors, can undermine the fairness of transactions and exacerbate disparities in income and wealth within the agricultural sector.

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How do we overcome all the barriers?

Today, the concern is not just about eradicating hunger. It is about providing India with abundant nutrition produce throughout the year while also considering a sustainable practices