Malnutrition and Health in the Era of Climate Change

India with the population of 1.21billion according to the latest census (Census 2011), economic instability and climate change, food security presents a demanding challenge for states and national governance. The overall improvement in nutritional status has also been very slow. There is chronic under-nourishment in about half of the population, particularly among the vulnerable groups of children (75%) and women (20%) as per the study conducted by me at Chintapally Mandel of Visakhapatnam District; Andhra Pradesh (India).The study shows certain nutrition related clinical symptoms and points toward ragi (finger millet) as the most suitable food. Keeping this in view it is suggested that people need to be made aware, the nutritional value and health building properties of the millets to maintain better health.

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Each millet is extraordinarily superior in nutritive value compared to rice and wheat. Germination of these millets still improves the nutritional quality. Sprouts are easily available to all sections of society and the biggest store house of all nutrients. The dishes like chapati, puri, health drink and payasam were prepared and tested the colour, texture, flavor, taste, overall acceptability and calculated nutritive value. The vitamins, minerals and protein content substantially increased with a simultaneous decrease in calorie and carbohydrate content. Hence, the dishes prepared with combination of germinated finger, pearl and foxtail millet in combination with other pulses to feed pre-school children, pregnant and lactating women improve the health condition and minimize the clinical symptoms.

In addition these crops are ‘climate change complement crops’.