India celebrates gains in reducing hunger through robust production and welfare schemes, yet the SOFI 2026 report highlights persistent barriers to affordable nutritious diets amid rising global risks.
The United Nations’ State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 report brings cautious optimism. Global hunger declined for the third consecutive year in 2025, with an estimated 645 million people – or 7.8 per cent of the world population – facing undernourishment, down from previous years.
This marks steady recovery from COVID-19 disruptions, but the world remains far from the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030. The number of undernourished people is still about 50 million higher than in 2015.
Regional disparities are stark. Asia, including India, reports hunger affecting around 6 per cent of its population. In contrast, Africa now hosts the largest share of the world’s hungry, with one in five people undernourished and projections indicating it could account for 56 per cent of global hunger by 2030.
India’s Strong Food Availability Gains
India stands out for its progress in food security. Sustained high cereal production, efficient procurement, and expansive welfare programmes like the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) have significantly improved foodgrain availability.
As of recent data, PMGKAY provides free foodgrains to around 81 crore beneficiaries, with massive allocations – over 600 lakh tonnes planned for various schemes in 2025-26. Fortified rice distribution continues to address micronutrient deficiencies.
Record buffer stocks in the central pool (well above norms for rice and wheat) enable effective distribution during crises, festivals, or calamities. These measures have helped shield vulnerable populations, contributing to reduced moderate or severe food insecurity globally, with India playing a key role in Asia’s improvements.
Experts credit diversification efforts in horticulture, pulses, and oilseeds, alongside farmer producer organisations, for bolstering supply chains.
The Persistent Challenge: Affordable Healthy Diets
Despite these gains, the SOFI report underscores a critical gap: healthy diets remain out of reach for millions in India and worldwide. The global cost of a healthy diet rose to 4.28 PPP dollars per person per day in 2025, up significantly from prior years. In India, it stands at 4.11 PPP dollars.
Nutrient-rich foods – fruits, vegetables, pulses, dairy, and proteins – have seen faster price inflation than staple cereals. Studies indicate that a significant portion of rural poor households cannot afford recommended nutritious diets, with costs consuming a large share of daily wages, especially for women.
Post-farmgate costs dominate: 70-75 per cent of consumer food prices arise from processing, transport, storage, and wholesale. Weak infrastructure exacerbates losses and drives up prices for perishables.
This “hidden hunger” or micronutrient deficiency persists alongside the dual burden of undernutrition and rising obesity, demanding a shift from calorie sufficiency to nutritional quality.
Emerging Global Risks Threaten Momentum
Geopolitical tensions, notably conflicts in the Middle East, pose fresh threats by inflating energy, fertiliser, and food prices. FAO projections warn of potential increases in hungry populations – up to 10 million more in Asia and 8 million in Africa by 2030 under prolonged crisis scenarios.
Climate change, extreme weather, and economic volatility further compound risks. Rural areas and women remain disproportionately affected, with 2.1 billion people globally experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025.
FAO officials emphasise that gains are fragile, calling for resilient food systems, better funding, and integrated policies addressing production, distribution, and nutrition sensitivity.
Policy Imperatives for India and the World
The SOFI 2026 report advocates evolving agricultural policies. India should accelerate focus on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and climate-resilient varieties through R&D, irrigation, seeds, and extension services.
Strengthening value chains – cold storage, logistics, and efficient markets – is crucial to cut post-harvest losses and costs. Nutrition-sensitive social protection, income support for the poor, and transparent price monitoring can bridge affordability gaps.
Globally, achieving SDG 2 requires holistic investments across agrifood systems: from farm to fork, including trade facilitation and sustainable practices.
Alongside, India’s journey illustrates both triumphs and hurdles. Record production and welfare schemes have curbed acute hunger, positioning the nation as a bulwark in Asia. Yet, transforming food security into nutrition security demands urgent action on affordability, diversification, and resilience.
The FAO report maintains that as global headwinds mount, collaborative efforts between governments, international bodies, and private sectors will determine whether current progress solidifies into lasting victory against hunger and malnutrition.
