In a landmark initiative to bridge the gap between agriculture and public health, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) jointly launched “SEHAT” (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation). This national mission-mode program aims to translate agricultural advancements into tangible health outcomes, marking a shift from curative to preventive healthcare.
Unveiled by Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda and Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the mission addresses India’s dual burden of persistent malnutrition and rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and cancer. Shri Nadda emphasized that SEHAT embodies a “whole-of-government” approach, integrating science and policy to ensure that agricultural solutions meet emerging health challenges.
The mission prioritizes on developing nutrient-dense varieties to eliminate micronutrient deficiencies. It promotes dietary diversification and boosting farm resilience and addressing specific health risks faced by agricultural workers. It focues on leveraging functional foods and superior crop varieties to manage lifestyle diseases and strengthening surveillance and research at the human-animal-environment interface.
Shri Chouhan remarked that with this scientific validation, “food can become medicine,” aligning agricultural production directly with the population’s nutritional needs. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, DG ICMR, added that the initiative will generate a data-driven framework to inform future policy interventions.
By leveraging agricultural transformation as a determinant of health, SEHAT aims to pave the way for a healthier, stronger, and more self-reliant India.
Written by: Pragna Biswas
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
