From food security to food dignity

World Food Day, observed annually on 16 October, commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1945. Since its first celebration in 1981, it has evolved into one of the most widely observed UN days, marked in over 150 countries. Each year it renews the call for global solidarity in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. The 2025 theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” emphasizes cooperation among governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to create sustainable agrifood systems that nourish people while preserving the planet.

Despite unprecedented scientific advances, more than 730 million people worldwide remain undernourished, a sobering reminder that hunger persists amid abundance. The challenge is no longer producing enough food—it is ensuring equitable access, proper nutrition, and sustainable production. The global food system must adapt to a warming climate, rapid urbanization, and changing dietary patterns. Food, the foundation of life, demands systems that prioritize both people and the planet.

India provides an illustrative example of how a populous nation can address these intertwined goals. Over the past decade, the country has achieved remarkable progress in both agricultural productivity and social welfare. Foodgrain output has increased by about 90 million metric tonnes and fruit and vegetable production by over 64 million metric tonnes. India today ranks first globally in milk and millet production, second in fruits and vegetables, and third in overall fish production—second only in aquaculture. Agricultural exports have roughly doubled since 2013–14, rising from around US $22.7 billion to nearly US $48 billion in 2023–24, reflecting growing global confidence in Indian produce. These achievements show how strategic policy, technology, and community participation can transform a nation’s food economy.

Yet production alone is not enough. India’s approach integrates productivity with social equity, ensuring that food reaches every household. The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 remains the backbone of this framework, legally guaranteeing subsidized foodgrains to about 78.9 crore beneficiaries—roughly two-thirds of the population. It entitles Antyodaya Anna Yojana households to 35 kg of foodgrains per month and priority households to 5 kg per person. Complementing it is the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), an expanded version of the earlier National Food Security Mission launched in 2007–08, which now couples food production with nutritional outcomes. Together they represent a continuum ensuring that productivity gains translate into nourishment.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) deepened this safety net. Introduced during the COVID-19 crisis, it provided free foodgrains to poor households and has since been extended for five years from January 2024, with an outlay of Rs 11.80 lakh crore. By making NFSA entitlements free of cost, the government has removed the last economic barrier between vulnerable citizens and basic sustenance.

India’s commitment to nutrition is further reinforced by the PM POSHAN programme, which supplies one hot cooked meal each school day to children up to age 14 in government and government-aided schools. In fiscal 2024–25, about 22.96 lakh metric tonnes of rice and wheat were allocated for this initiative, improving attendance and learning outcomes while combating classroom hunger.

Equally transformative has been the nationwide Rice Fortification Initiative. Fortified rice kernels enriched with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 are now blended into all rice distributed through public schemes. By March 2024, 100 percent of rice under PMGKAY, ICDS, and PM POSHAN had been fortified. The Cabinet recently extended the universal supply of fortified rice until December 2028 with 100 percent central funding of Rs 17,082 crore. This large-scale nutrition intervention—covering two-thirds of the population dependent on public food schemes—positions India as a global pioneer in combating hidden hunger.

Modernisation of the Public Distribution System has further improved delivery. Through the SMART-PDS initiative, scheduled for nationwide implementation by December 2025, digital technologies now underpin procurement, supply chains, ration-card management, and biometric authentication. Nearly all ration cards are Aadhaar-linked, and most Fair Price Shops are equipped with electronic point-of-sale devices. The “Mera Ration 2.0” mobile app, launched in August 2024, lets beneficiaries view their entitlements, check withdrawal records, and locate nearby shops in real time, and has already recorded over one crore downloads. With the “One Nation, One Ration Card” system, families can access their benefits anywhere in India, ensuring portability for migrant workers and greater transparency for all.

Looking ahead, the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, launched by the Prime Minister on 11 October 2025 with an allocation of Rs 11,440 crore, seeks to achieve self-reliance in pulses by 2030–31. The mission aims to expand cultivation by 35 lakh hectares, benefiting about two crore farmers. Beyond reducing import dependence, it strengthens soil health through nitrogen-fixing crops, linking agricultural resilience with ecological sustainability.

India’s progress also extends to global engagement. The World Food India 2025 summit, hosted by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, drew participation from 108 countries and about 1,557 exhibitors. It highlighted India’s emergence as a global food hub, demonstrating advances in food processing, technology, and investment partnerships. Events like these reinforce India’s leadership in shaping the world’s food future—one that values innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Equally emblematic is the growing recognition of the Indian Thali, the balanced meal that mirrors India’s cultural and nutritional diversity. The WWF Living Planet Report 2024, cited in government features, observed that if global diets mirrored India’s largely plant-based consumption pattern, humanity would require only 0.84 of an Earth by 2050 to sustain itself. This shows how traditional food wisdom can advance both human health and planetary well-being.

World Food Day 2025 thus calls upon humanity to view food not merely as a commodity but as a conduit for cooperation and compassion. The journey from field to fork is shaped by countless hands—farmers, scientists, policy-makers, and citizens—all of whom share a moral obligation to ensure that no one sleeps hungry. 

The author is a researcher in agricultural economics and public policy, specialising in food security, nutrition, and sustainable development.