New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) Union Health & Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda unveiled “SEHAT – Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation”, a national programme designed to translate agricultural advancements into tangible health outcomes for citizens, an official said on Monday.

He said SEHAT is an initiative to reinforce the convergence of agriculture, nutrition, and public health and a joint initiative of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

J.P. Nadda described SEHAT as a “historic step” and underscored the transformative shift in India’s public health approach under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He noted that over the past decade, the country has moved decisively from a reactive and curative model of healthcare to a proactive, preventive, and holistic approach, driven by forward-looking policy interventions.

He emphasised that SEHAT is a direct outcome of this paradigm shift.

The mission focuses on five priority areas of national significance, including the development and evaluation of biofortified and nutrient-dense crop varieties to address malnutrition and improve nutritional status; strengthening integrated farming systems to promote dietary diversification, enhance farm incomes, and build resilience; addressing occupational health risks among agricultural workers through targeted, evidence-based interventions; advancing agriculture-enabled strategies for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases through the promotion of functional foods and nutritionally superior crop varieties; and strengthening One Health preparedness through integrated surveillance, diagnostics, and research at the human–animal–environment interface.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised the intrinsic link between agriculture and health, noting that the foundation of a healthy nation lies in a well-nourished population.

He stated that the SEHAT mission would serve as a cornerstone in ensuring that the food produced is aligned with the health needs of the population.

He also highlighted the five priority pillars of the mission and underscored the need to promote organic and sustainable agricultural practices, which would contribute significantly to improving the health of citizens.

Highlighting the need for this Initiative, Secretary, DHR & DG ICMR, Rajiv Bahl stated that India is currently navigating a dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition, compounded by the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases, underscoring the urgent need to align agriculture with public health objectives.

He emphasised that agriculture must evolve beyond food production to become a key driver of nutrition and health outcomes.

–IANS

rch/pgh