The problem of food safety and malnutrition is an endemic, and one we are still struggling with nearly 50 years after liberation. Poor diets are responsible for thousands of deaths each year, and 31 percent of children under 5 have stunted growth due to poor
nutrition.
Ensuring proper nutrition needs to be made a priority and the private sector can come forward in this regard through innovative solutions
which are commercially viable. There is a need for large scale investment for nutritious and
safe food.
The government should allocate more funds and encourage investment in the sector as is crucial in improving the quality of life and increase life expectancy as well. We need to prioritize food safety and nutrition as it is a key milestone on the road to development.
Good nutrition is a basic human right
that we must strive to ensure for
each and every individual
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can play an important role in coming up with innovative solutions for improved nutrition. Malnutrition has far-reaching consequences for human capital, economic productivity, and national development overall. Therefore, there must be changes in policy making, as well as implementation of development projects to improve the scenario.
In our country, malnutrition is caused by poor dietary diversity, with 70 percent of the diet comprising cereals, and inadequate protein and micronutrient intake.
One way to improve the scenario is undoubtedly to raise awareness of basic nutritional science both among adults and children in rural, semi-urban and urban areas.
Improving nutrition is not only necessary, but long overdue. It can have positive effects on physical and cognitive development as well as productivity. Good nutrition is a basic human right that we must strive to ensure for each and every individual.
Research in the field of nutrition is needed to overcome the current challenges in food security. Both the public and private sectors must invest time and money in order to improve the current situation.