Changing dimensions of ‘Fish for All’ from ‘food and livelihood’ to ‘nutritional security’

Abstract

Inland fisheries contribute more than 12.60 million metric tonnes of fish per year to food basket of India. ‘Fish for all’ concept was a global initiative by World Fish to improve food and livelihood security of the rural poor of the developing countries. Fish embodies more than a basis of protein source in human diet and endowed with essential micronutrients, minerals, and vitamins. It could be an essential medium to fight under-nutrition and malnutrition. Healthy population is prerequisite for sustainable growth and development of a community and a nation. Our country is facing enormous challenges to tackle the ‘hidden hunger’ of the young, marginal, landless working and underprivileged population. Despite, multiple nutritional intervention schemes at community level, malnutrition and under-nutrition remain a public health issue which needs to be addressed with utmost care and responsibility. Incorporation of nutrition rich Small Indigenous Fish in the daily diet of undernourished and malnourished population through different Government schemes may help our country to achieve the focus of nutritional security through accomplishing the goal of wholesome human nutrition.