India’s protein supply exposed to import dependence, water stress and affordability gaps: Report
Reported by Down To Earth, not nibnow. We are not the publisher; this is a short summary that may be AI-assisted and can contain mistakes. Read the original for the full story. Publisher or rights holder? Request removal or a correction.
India’s reliance on imported protein and stressed groundwater threaten the ability of over a third of its population to afford a healthy diet, making food security a pressing concern.
A recent report highlights significant vulnerabilities in India's protein supply chain, pointing to heavy reliance on imports, severe groundwater depletion, and widespread affordability issues. The study indicates that roughly 35.5 percent of the population cannot afford a healthy diet. India currently holds the 17th position on the Protein Sovereignty Index, a ranking that underscores its ongoing exposure to global shocks in fertilizer markets and agricultural production. These combined factors create a fragile environment for domestic food security, suggesting that the nation remains susceptible to external disruptions that could further strain its ability to meet nutritional needs sustainably.
Protein sovereignty measures a country's ability to meet its protein needs domestically; high import dependence and water scarcity can make a nation vulnerable to global supply shocks and affect nutrition affordability.
- •Monitoring government policies aimed at reducing import reliance for protein sources
- •Tracking initiatives to improve groundwater management for agriculture
- •Watching future assessments of India’s ranking on the Protein Sovereignty Index