Hidden Hunger Crisis and Biofortification

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Hidden Hunger Crisis and Biofortification

Merentoshi^*

Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD), Nagaland University, Medziphema, Nagaland (797 106), India

Ranjan Das

Dept. of Crop Physiology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam (785 013), India

DOI: NIL

Keywords: Biofortification, Hidden hunger, Micronutrients, Nutrition

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiency is a serious global health problem that affects one out of every three persons. Agricultural products are the primary source of nutrients for humans, especially in developing countries. These nutrient deficient agricultural products cannot support healthy diet in order to meet daily requirements resulting in poor health, sickness, increased morbidity and mortality rates. Biofortifying the crops consumed by the poor population of the world can considerably improve the amount of nutrients consumed by these populations. Despite numerous challenges and the potential extent of biofortification's impact on population nutritional status may be small biofortified crops have been recognized as a viable and cost-effective agricultural approach for improving the nutritional status of tens of millions of people on a sustainable basis.