Climate Change and malnutrition are, perhaps, currently the world’s two most poignant concerns. While the issues have garnered everyone’s focus, they have also become sore topics. The fact that youngsters have recently become involved in the fight against climate change gives one hope, because their involvement might trigger some action from the elders too. The issue of malnutrition, however, has had no such luck; though there has been much talk on nutrition of late.
In India, our traditional agriculture took care of our nutritional needs because it was based on mixed cropping. Millets, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, edible uncultivated greens—all shared the same space, water, time, pests and labour. But when we shifted to monocropping, we ended up with nutritional deficiencies. A solution, however, now appears in sight.
In recent years, the government has encouraged farmer producer organisations (FPO) to boost farmers’ income, health, nutrition and living standard. FPOs are registered companies, owned and managed by farmers or groups of farmers. There are about 5,000 ​FPOs in the country and the government has announced support for the formation of another 10,000. These FPOs would have about 750,000 farmers, assuming that 500 farmers are involved per FPO. If FPOs can enter the nutrition business, they can profit and also help bridge the country’s nutrition gap.
Denne historien er fra November 01, 2019-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra November 01, 2019-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
