Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said that India’s food stocks are abundant and there is no food shortage in the country. The Minister said this while jointly launching the Science Excellence for Health through Agriculture Transformation (SEHAT) initiative alongside Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi. Mr Chouhan said that the initiative jointly launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will help boost the healthy lifestyle of the people. He said that the SEHAT mission will serve as a cornerstone in ensuring that the food produced is aligned with the health needs of the population. Mr Chouhan underscored the need to promote organic and sustainable agricultural practices, which would contribute significantly to improving the health of the citizens. The Minister emphasized that with the right approach, food itself can become medicinal and expressed confidence that the SEHAT mission would play a vital role in advancing this vision and contribute to the broader goal of One Health.
The Minister further emphasized the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and advised the citizens to follow and adopt a balanced diet.
On the occasion, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda said that the initiative represents the proactive, preventive, and holistic approach of the government in the health sector. The Minister emphasised the commitment to expanding access to affordable and high-quality healthcare, with a strong focus on prevention, early detection, and continuum of care. Mr Nadda further underlined the need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-system approach, in which integration of science, policy, and implementation is required. He noted that SEHAT represents a significant step in this direction and expressed confidence that such coordinated efforts would pave the way for a healthier and stronger India.
The SEHAT initiative aims to strengthen the intersection of agriculture, nutrition, health, and scientific innovation for a healthier India. It is also aimed at generating robust, evidence-based solutions to improve nutritional outcomes and strengthen public health. The mission focuses on five priority areas of national significance. They include the development and evaluation of biofortified and nutrient-dense crop varieties, strengthening integrated farming systems and occupational health risks among agricultural workers. It also prioritises advancing agriculture-enabled strategies for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases and strengthening One Health preparedness through integrated surveillance, diagnostics, and research.
The launch ceremony was also attended by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary, along with officials from the Agriculture and Health Ministry.
