Ministry of Agriculture & ISB Assembles for Advancing Agriculture- Nutrition Convergence

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) and the Indian School of Business (ISB), in collaboration with the Ministries of Food Processing Industries, Electronics, and Information Technology, and the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Govt. of Odisha, recently conducted a workshop to discuss significant aspects of promoting agriculture-nutrition convergence in India. This convergence is deemed a crucial factor in establishing sustainable impact pathways to enhance nutrition outcomes in the nation.

Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, recently chaired a crucial meeting aimed at bringing about significant changes in enhancing the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutrient-rich foods in India. 

During the meeting, he stressed the importance of strengthening rural markets, particularly rural haats, through the implementation of competitive business models and efficient infrastructure, as well as fostering an ecosystem of entrepreneurs that would enable rural haats to become economically sustainable spaces that provide affordable nutrient-dense foods.

Towards the end of last year, MoA&FW and ISB announced their collaboration to enhance the connection between agriculture and nutrition in India. The objective of this collaboration is to enhance the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and animal-sourced foods to low-income consumers in India. The interventions designed and implemented as part of this collaboration will focus on policy, markets, and technology to achieve this goal. Moreover, these interventions will be gender-inclusive and climate-change ready.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (MoA&FW) will take the lead in this partnership within the Government of India, and it holds a crucial role in promoting the integration of agriculture and nutrition.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (MoA&FW), Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY), and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment in the Government of Odisha recently held a meeting with the leadership of the Indian School of Business (ISB) and its implementation partners, MicroSave Consulting (MSC) and Policy & Development Advisory Group (PDAG). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss potential pathways and strategies for converging agriculture and nutrition.

Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at ISB, stated during the workshop, "The Indian School of Business (ISB) will leverage its expertise and collaborative partnerships with various organizations and institutions, both nationally and globally, spanning different sectors. This will aid in enhancing the Government of India's capabilities to strengthen the crucial linkages between agriculture and nutrition." 

The technical assistance provided by ISB to the Government of India is anticipated to greatly enhance the connection between agriculture and nutrition. This collaboration will facilitate a cohesive approach between policy, markets, and technology to improve nutrition outcomes in the country. The emphasis will be on promoting nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and animal-based products.

During the workshop at ISB, the cohort collaborated to establish the first steps and solidify the areas of action for the upcoming quarter. They plan to meet every quarter to work as a team and are anticipated to make significant progress in promoting the intersection of agriculture and nutrition in India.

-Deccan Chronicle

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