TAG: GS 3: AGRICULTURE
THE CONTEXT: A recent study conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has raised significant concerns about the nutritional value of rice and wheat consumed by Indians.
EXPLANATION:
- The study, discussed in a webinar organized by Down To Earth (DTE) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), reveals a decline in essential nutrients in these staple grains, emphasizing the potential impact on public health.
Changing Nutrient Profiles Over 50 Years
- Over the last five decades, the introduction of high-yielding rice and wheat varieties aimed at achieving food security has inadvertently led to alterations in their nutrient profiles.
- The ICAR-led study highlights a noteworthy decrease in essential nutrients like zinc and iron in rice and wheat.
- Specifically, zinc and iron concentrations have reduced by 33% and 27% in rice, and 30% and 19% in wheat, respectively.
Green Revolution’s Shift in Focus
- The Green Revolution, initiated to address India’s growing population and achieve self-sufficiency in food production, primarily focused on improving crop yield.
- However, after the 1980s, breeders shifted their attention to developing varieties resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses like salinity and drought.
- This shift neglected the plants’ ability to absorb essential nutrients from the soil, contributing to the observed decline in nutritional content.
Efficiency of Modern-Bred Cultivars
- The study, an extension of a 2021 research initiative, found that modern-bred cultivars of rice and wheat are less efficient in sequestering nutrients like zinc and iron, despite their availability in the soil.
- The reduced nutrient density in these staple grains poses a potential threat to the health and well-being of the population.
Impact on Human Health
- Depleted concentration of essential nutrients, coupled with a significant increase in arsenic content (1,493% in rice), may lead to higher prevalence of diseases related to neurological, reproductive, and musculoskeletal systems.
- The study underscores the urgent need to address this decline in nutritional value to prevent adverse health outcomes.
- The study predicts that if the current trend continues, rice and wheat, meeting over 50% of daily energy requirements in India, could lose up to 45% of their food value by 2040.
- This projection emphasizes the need for immediate intervention to avoid the impoverishment of these staple grains.
Government Initiatives and Challenges
- Efforts are being made to improve the nutritional profile of food grains, with a focus on bio-fortification.
- The government, under a special project, has explored landraces and wild species for varieties high in nutritional content.
- However, despite the development of 142 bio-fortified varieties, challenges remain in popularizing and adopting these varieties on a large scale among farmers.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
- he Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
- It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
- It is headquartered at New Delhi. With 102 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
- It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
Bio Fortification:
- Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology.
- Biofortification can be done using non-genetically-modified methods as well. Biofortification using traditional method involves crossing varieties over successive generations to eventually yield a plant with high nutrient content along with other favorable traits.
- Examples of biofortification projects include:
- Iron-biofortification of rice, beans, sweet potato, cassava, and legumes.
- Zinc-biofortification of wheat, rice, beans, sweet potato, and maize.
- Provitamin A carotenoid-biofortification of sweet potato, maize and cassava.
- Amino acid and protein-biofortification of sorghum and cassava.
Conclusion
- The ICAR study sheds light on the unintended consequences of agricultural practices on the nutritional security of India.
- Urgent attention is required to address the decline in nutrient content in rice and wheat to ensure the well-being of the population.
- Government initiatives and public awareness are crucial in mitigating these concerns and promoting sustainable agricultural practices that prioritize both yield and nutritional value.