In 2024, 2.3 billion people worldwide experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. Behind this figure lies a reality: malnutrition is not simply a matter of a lack of food.
A family may farm its own land and eat every day, yet still lack access to a sufficiently varied and nutritious diet. The causes of malnutrition are many: limited dietary diversity, unstable incomes, agricultural challenges, access to water, and climate change.
Understanding malnutrition also means understanding the conditions that enable families to improve their nutrition in a sustainable way.
No. 1. “Not being hungry means being well-nourished.”
Malnutrition is not simply a matter of eating enough. A person may have access to regular meals and yet still lack certain essential nutrients.
In many rural areas, families rely heavily on a few staple crops. These foods provide the energy needed for daily life, but a diet lacking in variety can lead to nutritional deficiencies and compromise health, particularly among children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
To promote a more varied diet, Karuna-Shechen supports the development of nutritional gardens. Cultivated by the families themselves, these gardens supplement staple crops with nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits.
No. 2. “Malnutrition is just a food problem.”
Malnutrition cannot be solved simply by producing more food. It is also necessary to be able to grow a variety of foods, have the necessary resources, and maintain stable production throughout the year.
In many rural communities, food security depends heavily on family farming. A drought, a poor harvest, or rising prices can quickly put a household in a vulnerable position.
That is why Karuna-Shechen’s food security programs combine agriculture with natural resource management. For example, rainwater harvesting and irrigation systems enable families to better manage available water and sustain their crops when conditions become more difficult. The goal is to strengthen the conditions that make sustainable food security possible.
No. 3. “All you need to do is provide food to combat malnutrition.”
Meeting an immediate need can be essential in certain situations. But in the long term, improving food security requires building the capacity of communities.
Farmers already possess valuable knowledge and expertise. However, new practices can help them better conserve their resources, improve their yields, or develop new opportunities.
Through its programs, Karuna-Shechen supports agricultural training, the production of natural compost, access to organic and reproducible seeds, and crop diversification. In some areas, this involves introducing new crops such as mushrooms or certain fruit crops, which can help diversify income and food sources.
Food security, therefore, is not achieved simply by providing what is lacking, but by creating the conditions that allow communities to develop their own long-term solutions.
In both India and Nepal, Karuna-Shechen works alongside communities to promote more secure and sustainable food systems, taking into account their local realities, resources, and expertise.
By supporting Karuna-Shechen, you are helping to create the conditions for more sustainable food security for communities in India and Nepal.
Sources :
Report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO
