Title: "Accelerating Progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): G20's Decade of Action"

Introduction:

As we find ourselves at the midway point to 2030, the global progress towards achieving the

Goal 2 is about creating a world free of hunger by 2030. The global issue of hunger and food insecurity has shown an alarming increase since 2015, a trend exacerbated by a combination of factors including the pandemic, conflict, climate change, and deepening inequalities. By 2022, approximately 735 million people – or 9.2% of the world’s population – found themselves in a state of chronic hunger – a staggering rise compared to 2019. This data underscores the severity of the situation, revealing a growing crisis.

At the midway point to 2030, the global progress on SDGs is off-track with only 12 percent of the targets on track. During this Decade of Action, we will leverage the G20’s convening power and its collective resolve to fully and effectively implement the 2030 Agenda and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, in a timely manner, to shape the world we want to see for our future generations.

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We commit to enhance global food security and nutrition for all in line with the G20 Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition 2023.

?Targets and indicators of SDG 2

?Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round

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Target 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5?years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons

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Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment

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Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality

Target 2.5: By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed

Target 2.a: Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries

Target 2.b: Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including through the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round

Target 2.c: Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food reserves, in order to help limit extreme food price volatility

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The burden of malnutrition at a glance

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India is 'on course' to meet three of the global nutrition targets for which there was sufficient data to assess progress. India is 'on course' to meet three targets for maternal, infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN). No progress has been made towards achieving the target of reducing anaemia among women of reproductive age, with 53.0% of women aged 15 to 49 years now affected. Meanwhile, there is insufficient data to assess the progress that India has made towards achieving the low birth weight target, nor is there adequate prevalence data. India is 'on course' for the exclusive breastfeeding target, with 58.0% of infants aged 0 to 5 months exclusively breastfed. Similarly, India is 'on course' to meet the target for stunting, but 34.7% of children under 5 years of age are still affected, which is higher than the average for the Asia region (21.8%). India has made no progress towards achieving the target for wasting, with 17.3% of children under 5 years of age affected, which is higher than the average for the Asia region (8.9%) and among the highest in the world. The prevalence of overweight children under 5 years of age is 1.6% and India is 'on course' to prevent the figure from increasing. India has shown limited progress towards achieving the diet-related non-communicable disease (NCD) targets. 6.2% of adult (aged 18 years and over) women and 3.5% of adult men are living with obesity. India's obesity prevalence is lower than the regional average of 10.3% for women and 7.5% for men. At the same time, diabetes is estimated to affect 9.0% of adult women and 10.2% of adult men.

?India’s Performance in SDG

?The proportion of population suffering from hunger was reduced from 18.4% in 2001 to 16.3% in 2020.

The number of undernourished people in the country increased from 198.3 million in 2001 to 224.3 million in 2020.

The proportion of children under 5 years of age with stunted growth reduced from 50.0% in 2000 to 31.7% in 2022.

Number of children who were moderately or severely stunted reduced from 65,152.7 thousand in 2000 to 36,138.1 thousand in 2022.

Number of children who were moderately or severely wasted reduced from 26,320.5 thousand in 2006 to 21,880.5 thousand in 2020.

Key Indicators:

Percentage of Fair Price Shops (FPS) with Online Transaction Systems: Fair Price Shops play a vital role in distributing subsidized food to vulnerable populations. The data shows that some districts, like Anjaw in Arunachal Pradesh and East Sikkim in Sikkim, have achieved 100% coverage of online transaction systems, enhancing transparency and efficiency in food distribution.

Percentage of Anganwadi Centres with Anthropometric Measurement Devices: Anthropometric measurement devices are essential for monitoring the growth and health of children. The data reveals disparities across districts, with some districts, such as East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, having only 26.23% coverage.

Percentage of Anganwadis with Own Buildings: Adequate infrastructure for Anganwadi centres is crucial for delivering essential services. For instance, Peren in Nagaland has an impressive 80.56% of Anganwadis with their buildings, while some districts like Baksa in Assam lag behind with just 22.57% coverage.

Nutritional Status of Children Under 5 Years: Stunting (low height-for-age) and underweight (low weight-for-age) are indicators of child malnutrition. The data highlights varying levels of child malnutrition across districts, with Peren in Nagaland reporting relatively low rates.

Anaemia among Pregnant Women and Children (6-59 months): Anaemia remains a significant health concern, particularly among women and children. The data emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, with some districts like Peren reporting high anaemia rates.

Average Yield of Rice and Productivity of Fruits and Vegetables: Agricultural productivity is crucial for food security. Data shows that certain districts, like Peren in Nagaland and East Garo Hills in Meghalaya, have relatively high agricultural productivity.

Key Initiatives:

Promoting Climate-Resilient and Nutritious Grains: The G20 encourages research cooperation to promote climate-resilient and nutritious grains like millets, quinoa, sorghum, and traditional staples such as rice, wheat, and maize. By investing in these crops, they aim to ensure a diverse and resilient global food supply. The outcomes from the 12th G20 Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) are particularly welcome, as they contribute to these efforts.

Enhancing Fertilizer Access and Soil Health: Recognizing the vital role of fertilizers and agricultural inputs in boosting crop yields, the G20 emphasizes the importance of increasing access, availability, and efficient use of these resources. They are committed to strengthening local fertilizer production and improving soil health to support sustainable agriculture.

Innovations for Sustainable Agriculture: The G20 nations pledge to accelerate innovations and investments aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity. They are dedicated to reducing food loss and waste throughout the value chain, improving marketing and storage practices, and building more sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and food systems.

Supporting Developing Countries: The G20 is committed to assisting developing countries in addressing their food security challenges. They will work collaboratively to ensure access to affordable, safe, nutritious, and healthy diets. Additionally, they are committed to realizing the right to adequate food progressively.

Promoting Fair Agricultural Trade: The G20 nations commit to facilitating open, fair, predictable, and rules-based agriculture, food, and fertilizer trade. They will refrain from imposing export prohibitions or restrictions and reduce market distortions, aligning their actions with relevant World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Strengthening Agricultural Information Systems: The G20 is dedicated to strengthening the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and the Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM). These initiatives enhance transparency in global food markets, prevent food price volatility, and support early warning systems. The expansion of AMIS to include vegetable oils is particularly noteworthy.

?Recommitment to Achieving SDGs:

The G20 nations recognize the urgency of accelerating progress on the SDGs and have committed to taking collective actions to effectively implement the G20 2023 Action Plan to Accelerate Progress on the SDGs. This plan encompasses high-level principles and seeks to leave no one behind. Here are some key highlights from the G20's commitment:

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Harnessing the Power of Digital Transformation: The G20 acknowledges the role of digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), data advancements, and the imperative to address digital divides. They have endorsed the G20 Principles on Harnessing Data for Development (D4D), emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making. The launch of the Data for Development Capacity Building Initiative underscores their commitment to utilizing data for sustainable development.

Mobilizing Adequate Financing: The G20 nations have reaffirmed their commitment to mobilizing affordable, adequate, and accessible financing from all sources to support developing countries in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda. They call upon developed countries to fulfill their official development assistance (ODA) commitments promptly, complementing other sources of development financing, including public, private, domestic, and international funding.

Tourism and Culture for Sustainable Development: Recognizing the significance of tourism and culture in fostering sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity, the G20 acknowledges the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a strategic instrument for achieving the SDGs.

Cooperation and Partnerships: The G20 is committed to enhancing cooperation and partnerships to address the challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda. They extend their support to UN-led initiatives, including the Secretary General's efforts to address the SDG financing gap through an SDG stimulus. Furthermore, they pledge to actively participate in the United Nations 2023 SDG Summit and other relevant processes.

?Conclusion:

The journey towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2, "Zero Hunger," is a complex and multifaceted one. The data analysis presented here underscores the need for tailored approaches at the district level to address food security, nutrition, and agricultural productivity. By focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities in each district, India can make significant strides towards eliminating hunger and malnutrition for its citizens, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future.