Context:

• The Government of India and the World Food Programme (WFP) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to tackle the global hunger crisis.

Key Points:

• Under the agreement, India will supply fortified (nutrient-enriched) rice to crisis-affected regions.

Major Provisions of the Agreement:

• The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, will supply fortified rice to WFP.
• Fortified rice contains nutrients like iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, which help address malnutrition linked to “hidden hunger” (micronutrient deficiency).
• The initiative will be implemented over the next five years and aims to meet the food and nutritional needs of crisis-hit and vulnerable populations globally.

Strategic Importance and Global Cooperation:

• As an agricultural surplus country, India will play a key role in tackling hunger.
• The agreement aligns with the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“The world is one family”), reflecting collective responsibility and humanitarian assistance.
• This LoI is a formal outcome of the discussions held at the WFP meeting in Rome in February 2025, further strengthening India’s role in global food security.

Other Areas of Cooperation:

• Both parties are collaborating in supply chain optimization, establishment of nutrition hubs, grain ATMs (technology-based food distribution), fortified rice distribution through PDS, smart warehousing, and mobile storage units for remote areas.
• These initiatives can serve as models for food security not only in India but across the world.

Leadership and Appreciation:

• Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary (DFPD), highlighted India’s commitment to shared global responsibility and humanitarian cooperation.
• Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director, appreciated India’s contribution and commitment, especially at a time when global food insecurity and shortfalls in humanitarian funding are increasing.

Rice Fortification

Definition:

• Fortification is the process of enriching rice with essential micronutrients (such as iron, folic acid, vitamin B12) to enhance its nutritional value.

Objectives:

• To reduce malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.
• To lower problems like anemia, weak immunity, and stunted growth in children.
• To ensure affordable and nutritious food for vulnerable sections of society.

Benefits:

• Strengthens nutrition security.
• Reduces anemia cases among rural and poor populations.
• Improves health of women and children.

Challenges:

• Lack of awareness.
• Cost and technical infrastructure issues.
• Quality control in the distribution system.

Rice Fortification Scheme in India

Implementation:

• Under this scheme, fortified rice is distributed to beneficiaries through Public Distribution System (PDS), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN), ICDS, and other welfare schemes.

Expansion and Objectives:

• The scheme aims to eliminate anemia and micronutrient deficiencies, as nearly 65% of India’s population consumes rice as a staple.
• Implemented in three phases from 2021:

– Phase I: Only ICDS/PM-POSHAN.

– Phase II: High-burden districts included.

– Phase III: Nationwide coverage through all welfare schemes.

• Extended from July 2024 to December 2028.
• Central government is providing financial support of ₹17,082 crore and bearing 100% cost under food subsidy.

Key Implementation Areas:

• Distribution across all states and Union Territories via PDS, PMGKAY, PM-POSHAN (earlier Mid-Day Meal Scheme), ICDS, and other welfare programmes.
• Fortified rice includes iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, as per FSSAI standards.

Current Status of Implementation:

• Nearly 52 million tonnes of fortified rice are being procured and distributed annually under the scheme.
• By 2024, universal coverage across all districts and schemes was achieved.
• Beneficiaries include Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families, Priority Household (PHH) cardholders, Anganwadi beneficiaries, schoolchildren, etc.

World Food Programme (WFP): General Information

• The WFP is the United Nations’ food assistance agency.
• It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization working on hunger and food security.
• Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
• Established: 1961 by the UN General Assembly and FAO.
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
• Objective: To eradicate hunger, ensure food security, and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2: Zero Hunger).
• Funding: Voluntary contributions (mainly from governments, private sector, and individual donors).

Relation with India:

• Active in India since 1963; India has now transitioned from an aid recipient to a donor country.
• In August 2025, India and WFP signed an LoI to tackle global hunger, focusing on fortified rice supply and technical cooperation.
• In India, WFP works on Mid-Day Meal Scheme, nutrition awareness, and climate-resilient food systems.

Areas of Work:

• Emergency food assistance (disaster/conflict-affected areas).
• School feeding programmes.
• Nutrition improvement initiatives.
• Cash and food voucher distribution.
• Food supply chain and logistics support.

Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2025

Published by: Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), a coalition including EU, FAO, WFP, and partners.

Acute Food Insecurity:

• In 2024, 295.3 million people (22.6% of the analysed population) across 53 countries/territories faced acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) – an increase of 13.7 million compared to 2023.
• This marked the sixth consecutive year of rising acute food insecurity, the highest level in GRFC’s nine-year history.
• IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophic hunger): 1.9 million people faced catastrophic levels of hunger in 2024 – the highest since 2016. Worst-affected regions: Sudan, Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.

Nutrition Crises:

• In 2024, 26 of the 53 countries experienced nutrition crises, and four had nutritional concerns.
• 37.7 million children (aged 6–59 months) suffered from acute malnutrition, including 10 million with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), requiring urgent treatment.
• Worst-affected: Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, and Mali.
• Top 10 countries (including Sudan, Gaza, Nigeria, Myanmar) accounted for over 65% of all acute food insecurity cases.