Agri-Food Systems: Importance, Challenges and Role in Food Security – GCWAS-2026

The President of India addressed the inaugural session of the Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) in New Delhi.

• The President emphasised the global priority of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships, stressing that gender equality must be central to sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The  United Nations has declared the year 2026 as ‘The International Year of the Woman Farmer’. 
  • This declaration calls for collective action to close gender gaps and promote leadership roles for women across agri-food value chains.

About Agri-Food Systems

• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines agri-food systems as all the interconnected activities and actors involved in getting food from field to fork. 
  • It encompasses everything from agricultural production and processing to distribution, consumption, and waste management.
• Agri-food Systems Day is marked on December 5 every year.

Key Components of Agri-Food Systems

• Agricultural Production: Cultivation of crops, livestock rearing, fisheries and forestry.
  • For Example: Rice and wheat cultivation in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
• Input Supply: Provision of seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, machinery and technology used in agriculture.
  • For Example: Use of HYV seeds and fertilisers during the Green Revolution in India.
• Processing and Value Addition: Conversion of raw agricultural produce into processed or packaged food.
  • For Example: Milk processed into dairy products through Amul.
• Storage and Transportation: Warehousing, cold storage and logistics systems to reduce post-harvest losses.
  • For Example: Grain storage through the Food Corporation of India.
• Distribution and Marketing: Wholesale markets, retail systems and export networks through which food reaches consumers.
  • For Example: Agricultural marketing through e-NAM (National Agriculture Market).
• Consumption and Nutrition: Dietary patterns and food access among populations.
  • For Example: Food distribution through the Public Distribution System.

Importance of Agri-Food Systems

• Ensuring Food Security: Agri-food systems are central to ensuring food availability and accessibility for the population. 
  • For Example: In India, foodgrain production reached over 330 million tonnes in 2023–24, supporting the food needs of more than 1.4 billion people.
• Major Source of Livelihoods: Agriculture and related activities provide employment to a large share of the population. 
  • According to NITI Aayog, around 45–46% of India’s workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors.
• Contribution to the Economy: The agri-food sector significantly contributes to national income. Agriculture and allied sectors account for about 18% of India’s Gross Value Added (GVA).
• Driving Rural Development: The agri-food sector supports rural infrastructure, markets and small enterprises. 
  • For Example: Programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme promote value addition and rural food processing industries.
• Promoting Agricultural Trade and Exports: Agri-food systems contribute to export earnings.
  • For Example: India’s agricultural and processed food exports exceeded $50 billion in 2022–23, facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.

Challenges in Agri-Food Systems

• Climate Change and Environmental Stress: Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and frequent extreme weather events are reducing agricultural productivity and threatening food security.
  • For Example: Heatwaves and irregular monsoon patterns have adversely affected wheat and rice production in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
• Post-Harvest Losses and Weak Supply Chains: Inadequate storage infrastructure, limited cold chain facilities and inefficient transportation lead to significant losses of agricultural produce.
  • For Example: Large quantities of fruits and vegetables are lost in rural areas due to insufficient cold storage facilities.
• Small and Fragmented Landholdings: A majority of farmers cultivate small and fragmented plots, which restricts the adoption of modern technologies and reduces economies of scale.
  • For Example: In India, most farmers operate on less than two hectares of land.
• Malnutrition and Dietary Imbalance: Despite adequate food production, many populations continue to suffer from poor nutritional outcomes due to lack of dietary diversity and unequal food access.
  • For Example: High levels of stunting and anaemia among children have been reported in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

Way Forward 

• Promoting Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Governments should encourage drought-resistant crops, crop diversification and sustainable farming practices to reduce the impact of climate change on agriculture.
  • For Example: Promotion of millets under the International Year of Millets 2023.
• Strengthening Storage and Cold Chain Infrastructure: Expanding warehousing facilities, cold storage networks and efficient logistics systems can significantly reduce post-harvest losses and improve food availability.
• • For Example: Expansion of storage capacity by the Food Corporation of India.
• Encouraging Farmer Collectives and Market Access: Supporting Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and digital agricultural markets can improve farmers’ bargaining power and access to markets.
  • For Example: Online agricultural trading through e-NAM (National Agriculture Market).
• Promoting Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture: Agricultural production should be aligned with nutritional requirements to address malnutrition and improve dietary diversity.
  • For Example: Strengthening food access through the Public Distribution System.

DOWNLOAD PDF