Grain is generally referred to as hard, small, dry seeds, belonging to cereal plants and are rich in carbohydrates, fibre content and other nutrients. Grains, specifically Indian Grains include staple cereals (wheat and rice), major millets such as sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra) and maize (Indian corn/ makki/makai), minor millets such as foxtail millet (kangni) and finger millet (ragi), and some other such as buckwheat (kuttu) and amaranth (rajgira).
Although, India is full of grains and thus many nutrients but a recent study conducted by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), based on the 2023-24 NSSO Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES), revealed that protein quality in India is getting degraded. It is claimed that half of all protein so consumed is obtained from grains (rice, wheat, semolina and refined flour).
- Average protein consumption of Indians per day is about 55.6 grams.
- Quality of this protein is quite low.
- Almost 50% of this protein is derived from grains which contain low-grade amino acids and hard to digest.
- On the other hand, high-quality protein sources (pulses, dairy products, eggs, fish and meat) are declining and fading away from meals.
- Major gap is found in keeping the balance in diet- missing essential food groups (vegetables, pulses, fruits, milk) and excess of salt, sugar and oil.
- Different income categories people have access to milk, fruits and other components of a balanced diet as per their income, thereby increasing the gap between healthy and unhealthy population.
And the findings of this study continue further, indicating towards depleting protein quality in India, despite the rise in grains production here. Along with the rising quantity, quality also matters.
Share your opinion on findings of this study and this dietary disparity prevailing in India.
MBH/PS