The world produces more food, but a large number of people are deprived of it because…

The wastage of food is substantial in every country, but some studies have shown that it is more serious in developing countries. The UNFAO had estimated that one-third of all produced food may be getting wasted. The world produces twice the amount of food that is needed, but large numbers of people are deprived of it due to wastage and other reasons. Food gets wasted at the farm, when it moves to the market and is processed, stored and shifted to shops, and finally in the kitchen. Many fruits and vegetables perish soon after harvesting. There is a need to improve production and storage practices, transport infrastructure, cold chain systems and processing techniques. Modern technologies and better packaging methods are needed. But even in countries where these facilities are available, wastage is high. So the most important requirement is to improve popular awareness of the need to ensure that food is not wasted in any form, at any stage. Some countries have launched a clean plate campaign against wastage of food. It is estimated that food worth at least Rs. 1 lakh crore is wasted in India, and this does not include cooked food. A part of that should be enough to feed the large numbers of hungry people in the country, which is ranked 94 out of 107 countries in the Global Hunger Index. The UN report says that reducing food waste would also cut greenhouse gas emissions and slow the destruction of nature through land conversion and pollution. Avoiding food wastage should therefore become a national mission, with positive environmental, social and economic impacts.