MEDICINES CANNOT make us resilient. But our lifestyle can. This wisdom is going to swell the demand for healthier and nutritious foods in this time of COVID-19, which requires us to urgently boost our immune systems and stay healthy. In India, which is a rich basket of nutrient-dense food crops, there has already been a growing demand for natural and organic food products. This is evident from the steep growth in the market share of natural and Ayurveda products of desi companies and a corresponding alignment to the trend by competing multinational companies. Aspirational consumers are going back to nature and natural products to live healthier and longer. A consumer survey by the World Economic Forum predicts that by 2030 India will no longer be an economy led by those in bottom of the wealth pyramid but by the middle-income class—some 80 per cent of the Indian households will be in a middle-income group (from about 50 per cent now) and drive 75 per cent of the consumer spending. Alongside, the government has also launched initiatives like “Eat Right India” and “Smart Food” to enhance the demand for healthier and nutritious foods.
We now need to ensure that these foods are safe, accessible and affordable to all, particularly to the vulnerable sections of society.
Empirical studies indicate that malnutrition contributes to most of the country’s child deaths as well as disability in adults. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) data further shows that overweight, obesity and even non-communicable diseases are no longer confined to the adult population. Saving the productive populations of the future requires a serious focus on nutrition.
Denne historien er fra June 16, 2020-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra June 16, 2020-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
