World Food Day: History and significance

Every year on October 16, the world celebrates World Food Day.  The day commemorates the 77th anniversary of the establishment of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN in 1945.

The day is also observed by many other nonprofits concerned with food security, including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

History and significance 

The day is observed not only to commemorate the incredible food that we get to eat every day but also to promote awareness about those who face challenges getting even one meal a day.

The day was first observed in November 1979. Dr. Pal Romany, former Hungarian Minister of Agriculture and Food, proposed the idea. Since then, the day has been observed by more than 150 countries worldwide. 

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Over the years, the majority of the day’s themes have revolved around agricultural production and funding the sector to boost output. Agricultural investments along with health care and education can help to alleviate hunger.

Despite the fact that farming requires investment, the sector has been starved of both public and private capital.

Today, the world is confronted with two major issues. One issue is the provision of a healthy diet, which impacts both the rich and the poor, resulting in chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. On the other hand, there is the problem of undernutrition, death, and impaired growth in infants. 

Also Read: India ranks 107 on Global Hunger Index 2022, records highest child wasting rate

Hunger in India 

According to the 2022 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 107  out of 117 countries. It is located just below Pakistan and Nepal.  A quarter of the world’s malnourished people live in the world’s second most populous nation and fifth largest economy. Approximately 21.25% of the population continues to live on less than $1.90 per day. Despite its rapid economic growth, India continues to suffer from significant levels of poverty, food shortages, and malnourishment. The income disparity between rich and poor has widened over the last two decades. The Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation.