Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Health-related issues;
Why in the News?
A healthy and nutritious diet costs much more than just eating enough to fill the stomach. Because of this, around three billion people worldwide cannot afford to eat healthy diet.
What is the primary difference between a calorie-sufficient diet and a healthy diet?
| Aspect | Calorie-Sufficient Diet | Healthy Diet | Example (Eg) |
| Purpose | Provides minimum energy to survive | Provides energy + essential nutrients for overall health | Eating only rice vs. eating rice with dal, vegetables, and curd |
| Nutrient Content | Lacks micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, proteins) | Rich in macro and micronutrients (carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins) | Rice alone vs. balanced meal with fruits, vegetables, proteins |
| Food Variety | Limited to cheap staples like rice, maize, or flour | Includes diverse food groups (grains, fruits, dairy, protein, etc.) | Maize flour daily vs. varied diet with pulses, greens, dairy |
| Health Impact | May cause “hidden hunger” and nutritional deficiencies | Promotes growth, immunity, and good physical and mental health | Feeling full but weak vs. feeling full and energized |
| Affordability | Very cheap (less than $1/day) | Expensive (around $3.67/day globally) | Affordable for poor families vs. out of reach for billions |
Why are the three billion people unable to afford a healthy diet globally?
- High Cost of Nutritious Foods: Healthy diets with fruits, vegetables, proteins, and dairy are much more expensive than basic staples. Eg: A meal with rice, lentils, vegetables, and milk costs much more than a plain rice or maize meal.
- Low Incomes in Poor Countries: In many low-income countries, the median income is lower than the daily cost of a healthy diet. Eg: In parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, people would need to spend over 100% of their income just to afford healthy food.
- Most Income Spent on Non-Food Essentials: People also need to spend on housing, transport, education, etc., leaving less money for nutritious food. Eg: A poor family may prioritize rent and school fees, and manage meals with only the cheapest staples.
- Dependence on Starchy Staples: Many rely heavily on calorie-dense but nutrient-poor foods like rice, maize, or wheat due to affordability. Eg: A person eats only maize porridge daily, missing out on proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
- Limited Production by Small Farmers: Even subsistence farmers may not produce enough variety to meet dietary needs, and cannot afford to buy it either. Eg: A farmer growing only rice and vegetables may lack access to milk, eggs, or fruits, leading to an unbalanced diet.
Where is the affordability of a healthy diet the lowest, affecting over 80% of the population?
- Sub-Saharan Africa: This region has the highest percentage of people who cannot afford a healthy diet. Eg: In countries like Chad, Burundi, or Niger, more than 80% of the population cannot afford fruits, dairy, or protein-rich foods regularly.
- South Asia: Countries like India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have large populations with low incomes, making even basic healthy foods costly. Eg: In rural India, a balanced diet might cost nearly an entire day’s wage.
How do subsistence farmers fit into the statistics on food affordability according to the FAO report?
- Included in Affordability Calculations: The FAO includes the value of food produced for self-consumption when calculating affordability. Eg: A farmer growing their own rice and vegetables is considered as having partial income from that food production.
- Still Unable to Afford or Produce a Healthy Diet: Even with homegrown food, many subsistence farmers cannot meet the dietary diversity needed for good health. Eg: A small farmer in rural Nepal may grow millet but can’t access milk, eggs, or leafy greens.
- Dependence on Staple Crops: Most subsistence farmers rely on calorie-rich but nutrient-poor staples like maize or cassava. Eg: A family in Malawi surviving mostly on maize lacks essential proteins and vitamins.
- Limited Market Access and Income: They often have little surplus to sell and low access to markets, limiting their purchasing power for other foods. Eg: A farmer in northern Nigeria may produce yams but can’t reach a market to sell or buy fruits.
- Vulnerable to Shocks and Seasonal Gaps: Crop failures, poor rainfall, or pests can wipe out their food supply and worsen affordability. Eg: In drought-prone Kenya, crop failure forces families to skip meals or rely on relief aid.
What are the steps taken by the Indian government?
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Way forward:
- Invest in Local Production and Diversification of Nutritious Foods: Governments and NGOs should support smallholder farmers to grow a wider range of nutritious crops (e.g., pulses, fruits, vegetables, dairy, poultry). Eg: Promoting kitchen gardens, poultry, and millet farming in rural India to diversify diets.
- Make Healthy Foods Affordable Through Policy and Subsidies: Implement targeted subsidies or cash transfers for poor households to afford healthy food groups. Eg: Expanding India’s mid-day meal and ICDS schemes with eggs, fruits, and vegetables for children.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2024] Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle?
Linkage: Poverty and malnutrition which are key reasons why three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. The inability to afford nutritious food leads to malnutrition, which in turn perpetuates poverty by hindering human capital development.
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