India tops world hunger list with 194 million people – UN report

According to the report given by Food and Agricultural organisation FAO of United Nations on Thursday 28th May 2015,India is the home to 194 million people in the world who are undernourished.

This is 15% of India’s population, even surpassing China in both numbers and in proportion of malnourished people in country’s population .

• According to the report of The State of Food Insecurity in the World, the higher economic growth is not fully converted to higher food consumption indicating that the poor and hungry people are not benefited from the overall growth.

  

• Report shows that growth not being inclusive. People in the rural areas form high percentage of  hungry and malnourished people in the developing nations and efforts to promote growth in agriculture and rural sector could be important part of strategy for promoting inclusive growth.
• From 1990 to 1992 , there has been reduction in the proportion of undernourished people in India by 36%. In India the extended food distribution program has resulted in positive outcome as according to FAO reports.
• Around the world, 795 million people or one in nine are under nourished. Asia and Pacific accounts for 62%.
• Positive trends are seen with the decrease in the prevalence of people  with undernourishment from 18.6% in 1990-92 to 10.9% in 20114-16 world over.
• Southern Asia has taken big steps in reducing  malnutrition among children.
• Prevalence of underweight children declined form 49,2% in 1990 to 30% in 2013.
• Many factors contribute to children underweight and is not restricted to protein deficiency alone  as per the report.
• Poor hygiene,disease, less access to clean water can also contribute to body’s inability in absorbing nutrients from food show finally in nutrient deficits like stunting and wasting.
• Against the backdrop of  ” challenging global environment” the reasons for under developed must be viewed as cautioned by the reports.
• Factors include volatile commodity prices, higher food and energy prices, rising unemployment and under employment must also be taken into consideration.
• Also global recession in 2008, natural disasters, political instability and civil strife hinders food security.
• 72 out of 129 countries monitored by FAO  have achieved The Millennium Development Goal Target of reducing the prevalence of undernourished to half by 2015.
• More ambitious goal of the World Food Summit of 1996 have been met by 29 countries, where the governments had committed to half the absolute number of  undernourished by 2015 .
• UN report added that Inclusive economic growths,agricultural investments and social protection along with political stability can eradicate hunger.

About Food and Agricultural Organisation [FAO]

• It is UN  agency against hunger in developing and developed nations.
• Formed on 16th October 1945.
• Headquarters Rome,Italy.
• Head is Jos Graziano da silva