Context: Recently, the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World published a global study tracking the progress on ending hunger and malnutrition.
About the report

• The report is jointly prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD), the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Key findings of the report

• The world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) by 2030.
• The number of people affected by hunger will surpass 840 million by 2030, or 9.8% of the world population. 

Covid-19 impact

• Poor access to nutrition: Households globally are facing increased difficulties to access nutritious food . It is even more difficult for the poorer and vulnerable populations to have access to healthy diets. 
• Hunger due to economic recession: It is estimated that at least another 83 million people to 132 million, globally, may go hungry in 2020 as a result of the economic recession triggered by covid-19.
• Food supply chain disrupted: Covid-19 containment measures are limiting labour mobility in areas dependent on seasonal or migrant labour and making it difficult to access markets and transport food within and across countries. 
• Policy and structural impediments, including a weak private sector in low-income countries such as India, have also limited the supply response of vegetables and other non-staple foods.