Context
On October 16, we commemorate World Food Day, which highlights the significance of considering food as a whole system. India has a large population, making it particularly difficult to maintain a resilient and sustainable food system. 
One of the main objectives is to ensure that everyone has access to healthy food, which is closely related to the financial success of farmers and the health of natural ecosystems. 

Concerns:  
·         Double Burden of Malnutrition: Obesity and nutrient deficits are problems in India. Nutrient deficiencies affect a large percentage of the population, and obesity rates are on the rise due to poor diets and sedentary lifestyles.
·         Farm Income Shortfall: A lot of small and marginal farmers find it difficult to make ends meet and frequently turn to non-farm pursuits. A lack of skills and a lack of diversification in income make this issue worse.
·         Depletion of Natural Resources: The resilience of India's food production is threatened by the depletion of natural resources including groundwater and healthy soil, as well as the effects of climate change.

Importance:  
·         In order to protect the environment, increase agricultural incomes, and guarantee nutrition security, India's food system needs to be revamped. 
·         Throughout order to accomplish these goals, a comprehensive strategy including farmers, distributors, and consumers throughout the food supply chain is needed.

Way ahead:  
·         Encourage customers to switch to more sustainable and healthful diets in order to shift consumer demand. Locally generated, healthful options can be promoted through cooperation between the corporate sector, civil society, health communities, and social media influencers. Improving food options can also be aided by public sector programs like institutional procurement and the Public Distribution System.
·         Encourage profitable and regenerative farming methods to aid in farmers' transition. Expand support for agroecological methods, fund more sustainable agriculture projects, and switch from input subsidies to direct financial support per hectare. Sustainable practices have to be the main emphasis of agricultural research and extension activities.
·         Farm-to-fork value chains should be made more inclusive and sustainable. Encourage firms and middlemen to buy directly from farmers and give priority to produce that has been farmed sustainably. Enable Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to trade produce with one another in order to guarantee a higher value share for farmers.

LTX Mains Question: 
Q. Describe the challenges of India’s food system and suggest the measures to be taken.