Source: PIB
Context:
The Union Government has launched the SEHAT Mission (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation) — a historic first in formally bringing together India’s agriculture and health sectors under a single scientific framework. Jointly anchored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the mission represents a strategic pivot from a reactive, treatment-centred healthcare model to a proactive, prevention-through-nutrition approach.
Key Highlights
- Mission: SEHAT — Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation.
- Launched in: New Delhi.
- Significance: First formal convergence of India’s agriculture and health sectors at a national mission scale.
- Implementing partners:
- ICAR (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare).
- ICMR (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).
- Strategic shift: From reactive treatment to proactive prevention through nutrition.
- Tagline / vision: Healthy Food, Healthy Farms, Healthy India.
- Approach: “Farm-to-plate” scientific chain for disease prevention and nutritional security.
- Key features:
- Biofortification of crops: Naturally enriched with zinc, iron, and other micronutrients.
- Promotion of traditional grains: Millets like Kodo, Kutki, Ragi, Jowar, Bajra.
- Integrated farming systems: Combining crops, animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping.
- Farmer health & safety: Protection from pesticide exposure and hazardous chemicals.
- Dietary solutions for NCDs: Food alternatives that act as “medicine” against diabetes, hypertension, cancer.
- One Health approach: Joint planning across human, animal, and environmental health.
- Science-based policy support: Real-time dashboards and research databases.
About the News
What is the SEHAT Mission?
The Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation (SEHAT) Mission is a new national initiative that formally brings together India’s agricultural and health systems to tackle malnutrition and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Why is SEHAT considered historic?
Because it is the first formal national-level convergence of agriculture and health policy in India — moving from siloed sector-wise approaches to a joint, science-led, prevention-oriented framework.
Who is leading the mission?
The mission is a joint partnership between: ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) — under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) — under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
What is its strategic vision?
A shift from a reactive treatment-based healthcare model to a proactive prevention model, with nutrition as medicine. Its tagline — “Healthy Food, Healthy Farms, Healthy India” — captures this approach.
What are the main interventions under SEHAT?
(a) Biofortification of crops with zinc, iron, and other micronutrients. (b) Promotion of millets like Kodo, Kutki, Ragi, Jowar, Bajra. (c) Integrated Farming Systems that mix crops with animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping. (d) Farmer health and safety programmes — including reducing pesticide exposure. (e) Dietary solutions for NCDs — researching foods that prevent/manage diabetes, hypertension, cancer. (f) Adopting the One Health approach. (g) Building real-time dashboards for evidence-based policy.
Why is biofortification central to the mission?
Because it directly addresses “hidden hunger” — micronutrient deficiencies (iron, zinc, vitamin A) that affect millions even when calorie intake is adequate. Biofortified staples deliver nutrition at scale, without requiring behavioural change in food consumption.
Why is the millet push significant?
Because millets are climate-resilient, nutrient-dense, and low-glycaemic, making them suitable for both food security and NCD prevention. India spearheaded the 2023 International Year of Millets and has been promoting them as “Shree Anna“.
What is the One Health approach?
A framework recognising that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected — for instance, many emerging diseases (like COVID-19, zoonotic infections, antimicrobial resistance) arise from the human-animal-environment interface. SEHAT’s One Health element brings medical and agricultural scientists together for joint planning.
Why focus on farmer health and safety?
Because farmers face high occupational risks — exposure to pesticides, fertilisers, dust, heat stress, and injuries. Despite being the producers of national food security, their own health remains under-monitored. SEHAT integrates farmer health protection with broader public health.
How does SEHAT fit into the broader policy landscape?
It complements POSHAN Abhiyaan, the National Health Mission, Eat Right India, the National Mission on Edible Oils, the Millet Mission, and the Aspirational Districts Programme — bringing them under a more integrated scientific umbrella.
Background Concepts
What is ICAR?
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Established in 1929, it is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries in India.
What is ICMR?
The Indian Council of Medical Research is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research. It functions under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and is one of the oldest and largest medical research organisations in the world.
What is biofortification?
The process of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value naturally — through conventional plant breeding or biotechnology — without relying on supplementation. Examples include iron-rich pearl millet, zinc-rich wheat and rice, vitamin A-rich orange-fleshed sweet potato, and high-protein wheat varieties. ICAR-led releases over the past decade have brought several biofortified varieties to Indian farmers.
What is “hidden hunger”?
A form of malnutrition where a person consumes enough calories but lacks essential micronutrients like iron, zinc, vitamin A, iodine, or folate. It is responsible for anaemia, stunting, weakened immunity, and impaired cognitive development — and is widespread in India.
What are millets?
A group of small-seeded grasses cultivated as food crops — including sorghum (Jowar), pearl millet (Bajra), finger millet (Ragi), foxtail millet, little millet, kodo millet (Kodo), barnyard millet (Kutki/Sanwa), proso millet, and brown top millet. They are drought-tolerant, climate-resilient, and nutrient-dense.
What was the International Year of Millets (IYM)?
Proposed by India and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, 2023 was designated as the International Year of Millets. India led the global campaign to promote millets for nutrition security, climate resilience, and farmer income.
What is “Shree Anna”?
The official designation given to millets in India to elevate their status from being viewed as poor man’s grains to superfoods central to nutrition and sustainability.
What are Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)?
Chronic diseases not transmitted directly from person to person — including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and mental disorders. NCDs account for around 75% of all deaths in India and are heavily linked to diet, lifestyle, and environment.
What is the One Health approach?
A collaborative, multisectoral approach recognising that the health of people, animals, plants, and the shared environment is interconnected. Globally championed by the WHO, FAO, WOAH (formerly OIE), and UNEP, it is central to handling zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety.
What is Integrated Farming System (IFS)?
A farming model that combines multiple enterprises — crops, livestock, fisheries, poultry, beekeeping, agroforestry, horticulture — within the same farm. It uses by-products of one activity as inputs for another, improving incomes, reducing risk, and enhancing nutritional diversity.
What is POSHAN Abhiyaan?
The Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment, launched in 2018, is India’s flagship programme to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia, and low birth weight. It integrates services across ICDS, NHM, and other schemes.
Why is convergence between agriculture and health important?
Because nutrition lies at the intersection of what is grown (agriculture) and what is consumed (diet). Without changing what farms produce, no amount of supplementation or medical intervention can fully solve malnutrition or prevent diet-linked diseases.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the SEHAT Mission, consider the following statements:
- SEHAT stands for “Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation.”
- It is a joint partnership between ICAR and ICMR.
- It aims to shift India’s healthcare strategy from a reactive treatment model to a proactive prevention model.
- It promotes the cultivation of millets such as Kodo, Kutki, Ragi, Jowar, and Bajra.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements about biofortification:
- It is the process of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value naturally.
- ICAR has released several biofortified varieties of staple crops in India.
- Biofortification helps address “hidden hunger” — micronutrient deficiencies.
- Biofortification relies exclusively on synthetic chemical supplementation.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q3. With reference to millets and India’s “Shree Anna” initiative, consider the following statements:
- India led the global campaign for the United Nations to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
- Millets are climate-resilient and nutrient-dense crops.
- Kodo, Kutki, Ragi, Jowar, and Bajra are types of millets.
- Millets are categorised as high-glycaemic-index crops.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q4. With reference to the One Health approach, consider the following statements:
- It recognises the interconnected health of humans, animals, and the environment.
- It is supported globally by organisations such as WHO, FAO, WOAH, and UNEP.
- It is particularly relevant in addressing zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
- The SEHAT Mission integrates the One Health approach into its framework.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 4 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Answer Key
- (d) — All four statements are correct.
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; biofortification does not rely on synthetic chemical supplementation — it works through conventional plant breeding or biotechnology.
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; millets are generally low-glycaemic-index crops, making them beneficial for managing diabetes and NCDs.
- (e) — All four statements are correct.
Exam Relevance
| Exam | Relevance |
|---|---|
| UPSC Prelims | GS Paper II — Welfare schemes; GS Paper III — Agriculture, Science & Technology |
| BPSC / State PCS | Agriculture, Health, Government Schemes, Current Affairs |
| Banking (RBI Gr B, NABARD) | Rural Economy, Agriculture & Health — high importance |
| Agriculture / Forest Services / Health Services | Core area — biofortification, millets, One Health, IFS |
