Bio-fortification of food points towards the beginning of a new journey from food security to nutritional security in the country. Examine (200 Words)
Refer - The Indian Express
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 3 years
KEY POINTS
· Leveraging science to attack the complex challenge of malnutrition, particularly for low-income and vulnerable sections of the society, who cannot afford balanced diversified diets, can be a good intervention.
· Scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have been developing biofortified crops in India with a view to eradicating malnutrition amongst the poor sections of the society.
· As per the ICAR website, they had developed 21 varieties of biofortified staples including wheat, rice, maize, millets, mustard, groundnut by 2019-20.
· It is worth noting that these varieties are not genetically modified they have been developed through conventional crop breeding techniques by our own scientists.
· Other factors like poor access to safe drinking water and sanitation, low levels of immunisation and education, especially of women, contribute equally to this dismal situation.
New approach
· Targeted programmes for improving the educational status of girls and reducing the school dropout rates, particularly at the secondary and higher educational levels, need to be promoted.
· Innovations in biofortified food can alleviate malnutrition only when they are scaled up with supporting policies.
· This will generate remunerative income for farmers and fuel the scaling-up of the unfolding technology.
· A national awareness drive on the lines of the “Salt Iodisation Programme” launched by the government to achieve the desired goals of poshan for all.
