• Agriculture is the backbone of human survival, providing food and nutrients that are vital in life.
• With increased health challenges from malnutrition to obesity being faced by the growing global population, agriculture is increasingly being recognized as a powerful driver of health and nutrition outcomes.
• With thoughtful innovation and sustainable practices, agriculture can be transformed into a powerful force to combat malnutrition and non-communicable diseases while ensuring food security for all.

Role of Agriculture in Health and Nutrition

• Agriculture as a Source of Nutrient-Dense Foods

• • • Agriculture is the basic propellant for the production of nutrient-rich foodstuffs, which are very important for maintaining health and well-being.
    • Nutrition not only provides energy but also actively helps to boost immunity, prevent chronic diseases, and develop physical and mental growth in general.
      • The promotion of pulse cultivation in India through interventions like the National Food Security Mission has contributed to sustainable agriculture and improved nutrition.

• Biofortified crops

• • • Agriculture is an instrumental means of farming biofortified crops, which are genetically altered plants to contain higher levels of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A. 
    • These biofortified crops play a very important role in addressing hidden hunger and deficiencies in micronutrients.
      • HarvestPlus initiative- It has effectively produced biofortified strains of fundamental crops such as rice, maize, and sweet potatoes to mitigate nutrient shortfalls in developing nations. 

• Link Between Agricultural Practices and Dietary Diversity

• • • Dietary diversity is essential for optimum nutrition and general well-being of the population. Agricultural practice and dietary diversity have particularly been linked to food security and nutrition.
    • India grows a wide range of crops that contribute toward meeting a healthy diet owing to a long agrarian background and different agro-climatic zones in each region,

• Ways to achieve dietary diversity

• • • • Diversified agriculture such as mixed farming and crop-livestock integration.
      • Traditional Indian agriculture that includes multi-cropping and agroforestry.
      • Nutrition-sensitive agricultural policies that have strengthened the linking between agricultural practices and dietary diversity.

• Food Security

• • • Sustainable agriculture protects the environment while addressing food security through availability, accessibility, and stability of food supplies. 
      • Practices like rotation of crops and agroforestry enhances biodiversity and promotes long-term productivity.

• Agriculture’s Role in Combating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)

• • NCDs contribute to 71% of all deaths in the world, according to the WHO. 
  • A shift in production and promotion toward healthy, nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, can reduce the risk of NCDs.
  • In India, millets (nutri-cereals) are cultivated because of their low glycemic index and excessive fibre content material, which help control diabetes and reduce the hazard of cardiovascular illnesses.

Government efforts that relate Agriculture and Public Health

• National Food Security Act: It aims to provide subsidised grains to over 800 million people. The programme has significantly reduced hunger and undernutrition, thus ensuring that the vulnerable groups have access to staple foods.
• National Nutrition Mission or POSHAN Abhiyaan: It focuses on integrating agriculture with nutrition to address malnourishment conditions among children and pregnant women. 
• National Food Security Mission: It was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture to promote the production of nutrient-dense crops by facilitating farming for pulses, millets, and biofortified varieties.
• Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF): It minimises chemical inputs and encourages the use of organic fertilisers, reducing production costs for farmers and improving soil health.
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: It is a part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change and includes drip irrigation methods that are water-conserving and drought-resistant crop varieties.
• The Eat Right India campaign by the FSSAI is to address public health through emphasising sustainable agricultural practices. This includes promoting organic farming, reducing injurious pesticides, and consuming locally produced foods to reduce exposure to contaminants and enhance nutritional quality.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana: It is for organic farming and has a direct consequence for public health by reducing the portion of chemical inputs. 
  • A 2021 study found that organic foods in India have lower pesticide residues, thereby reducing risks from long-term exposure to chemicals.

Challenges and Opportunities in Agriculture for Health and Nutrition

• Degradation of herbal sources: Soil erosion, water shortage, and loss of biodiversity threaten the productivity of farmlands. 
  • According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 33% of the world’s soils are already degraded, lowering the ability to grow nutrient-dense crops. 
• Effect of climate change: It exacerbates meal insecurity and hampers efforts to develop a diverse array of crops that are essential for combating malnutrition and non- communicable sicknesses. 
  • By 2030, it is predicted that agricultural productivity could decline by way of 10-25% in a few areas because of weather-related demanding situations.
• Monetary and social factors:  It includes fluctuating prices, lack of infrastructure and rural poverty that make it difficult for farmers to diversify their crops and adopt sustainable practices.

Opportunities

Despite challenges, agriculture is rife with opportunities to transform worldwide health and nutrients consequences. 

• Technological improvements along with precision farming and biotechnology offer exceptional ways to enhance agricultural performance and sustainability. 
  • Precision agriculture lets farmers optimise the usage of water, fertilisers, and pesticides, ensuring higher yields at the same time as minimising environmental damage.

• Conventional and climate-resilient vegetation: promoting the cultivation of crops such as millets and pulses can address malnutrition and the challenges of climate change. 
• Public-private partnerships and worldwide collaboration additionally provide a pathway to overcoming agricultural challenges. 

Conclusion

• The agricultural policies of India, when integrated with public health goals, possess significant potential to enhance nutritional outcomes, mitigate disease prevalence, and cultivate healthier communities.
• With thoughtful innovation and sustainable practices, agriculture can be transformed into a powerful force to combat malnutrition and non- communicable diseases while ensuring food security for all.