What is the significance of Food Day in WFP’s perspec tive?

It is a day to reassert the liberation of human kind from poverty and malnutrition.

The mandate of WFP in this region comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, is to eradicate poverty and ensure adequate nutrition to the people. The situation in the region varies drastically and accordingly our strategies also differ in each of these countries.

What are the challenges at the food front in India despite its rising stock as an emerging economic power?

In India, the affected population by malnutrition and hunger is substantial. India is still home to one fourth of the global hungry people. Despite the growing economy, India still has 231 million people suffering from hunger, and the recent price rise in food commodities might have pushed a few more additional million people to the brink of hunger. That this sizable section of the population still exists as hungry, despite the economic growth, is a big challenge.

What was WFP’s contribution in this context?

WFP is in India since 1963. We have been working in India for more than 45 years in collaboration with the Government, NGOs and other agencies and some of our significant achievements include the White Revolution, the Joint Forest Management, and the Indira Gandhi Canal. We have also been working with the Government’s Integrated Child Development Services to improve the nutritional and cognitive development of children. Certainly the proportion of malnutrition has declined over this period. At the same time, the population has also increased. In absolute terms, it still amazes me when I hear that the under nourished population in India is 231 million as against 212 million in sub-Sahara Africa. These numbers really strike me. The Food Prices are rising and this may further worsen the affordability factor of food resulting in escalation of malnutrition problem among the population.

Does WFP have any strategy in mind to address this?

It is true that with rising prices of food commodities, people will start eating less and less of cereals and vegetables. We are very much concerned about this situation. Globally we had 848 million people suffering from hunger in the period 2003-2005, but the latest figure (2006 – 2007) is 923 million, an increase of 75 million people over the past few years. We are afraid that the number may go up and reach 1 billion by the end of this year. Obviously India can’t be an exception.

What are the causes of rising food prices? What was the view at the World Food Summit in Rome, which you had attended?

There are many views on this subject. People give us different reasons and each reason makes sense. High oil prices, frequent natural disasters, growing consumption of food in emerging economies, and the shift towards cultivation of bio-fuels, etc. all contributed to the global high food prices. Food importing countries have been worst affected by the high food prices, and this is very worrying. The affordability factor in food is getting affected; people are not able to buy food even-though it may be available in the market because of very high prices.

To what extent Climate Change is contributing to falling food production and high prices?

The implications of climate change on food prices are evident. The impact will be long term. About 70 percent of Indian agriculture is dependent on rains. If the rain patterns change, it can affect all, including India.

How far WFP is taking this threat of Climate Change seriously?

Yes, it is factored into our strategy in India, which is very unique. WFP India has responded to the emerging needs through its various ongoing and new initiatives, like building community based preparedness against disaster, environmental resources changes, and related risks. In particular, WFP is engaged in supporting livelihoods among vulnerable tribal communities through improved soil and water conservation and better natural resource management in the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa in collaboration with IFAD.

How do you gather the data on poverty and malnutrition?

WFP in collaboration with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation has analysed the data on various indicators on availability, access and absorption dimensions of food security to identify the hot spots for directing food and nutrition based interventions. Through this exercise, three major atlases on rural India, urban India, and sustainability of India were produced, and are updated on a regular basis.

Does WFP supply grains directly to the target groups?

Yes, in some programmes, we do provide food commodities directly. We, also provide a product known as IndiaMix, which is a combination of wheat and soya fortified with vitamins and minerals, which makes it a nutritious mix for women and children. In flood-affected areas of Bihar we are distributing nutritious biscuits in sizable numbers for the population in the camps.

Who are the main partners in your projects?

We work with NGOs, Central and State Governments etc. As said earlier, on the assessment of food insecurity and vulnerability, we are working with Swaminathan Foundation. We are also publishing articles and books in the areas of nutrition and poverty.

Can you showcase some learnings from any other country, let us say Japan, that can be converted as solutions?

Like India, Japan too had a food distribution system in the post war era. In a country like Japan, people may spend 10-20 percent of their income on food, the rich in India may also do the same. But the poor people in India may spend almost 70 percent of the income on food. So it is very important for India to have a holistic approach and level up the income of poor population and get them out of hunger. Measures like raising the per capita income of poor people, ensuring adequate healthcare, providing access to vitamins, minerals, hygiene and clean water and decent work are all part of this holistic approach I mentioned. Providing food grains alone is not the solution for this.