Centre Launches ‘SEHAT Mission’ to Link Agriculture, Nutrition and Healthcare in Major National Policy Shift

“Low-cost, high-quality and scientifically validated solutions will be the most useful for the country, and ICMR is fully committed to working in this direction,” Shri Nadda stated.

In a landmark move aimed at transforming India's public health and agricultural systems through scientific integration, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers Shri JP Nadda, along with Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday launched the ambitious 'SEHAT Mission' in New Delhi.

The mission, jointly initiated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), seeks to establish a national framework connecting agriculture, nutrition, public health, and disease prevention under the broader vision of building:

"Healthy Food, Healthy Farms and a Healthy India."

The launch event was attended by Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl, ICAR Director General Dr ML Jat, senior scientists, policymakers, and public health experts.

India Moving from Curative Healthcare to Preventive Wellness

Addressing the gathering, Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda described the SEHAT Mission as a major transformation in India's policymaking philosophy, emphasizing that the country is now shifting from a healthcare system focused largely on treatment to one driven by:

• Prevention,

• Early detection,

• Nutrition-based wellness,

• Continuous care,

• Evidence-driven interventions.

He said the initiative reflects India's transition toward a proactive rather than reactive healthcare model under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

According to Shri Nadda, the launch of the SEHAT Mission marks the beginning of a new era in which agriculture and medical science institutions will work together instead of functioning in isolated silos as they traditionally have for decades.

He stressed that the integration of ICAR and ICMR expertise would enable the development of:

• Science-based food systems,

• Nutrition-sensitive agricultural strategies,

• Evidence-driven public health solutions,

• Indigenous healthcare innovations.

Mission to Address Malnutrition and Lifestyle Diseases Simultaneously

Shri Nadda observed that India is currently facing a dual health burden:

• Persistent malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies,

• Rapidly increasing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as:

  • Diabetes,

  • Hypertension,

  • Obesity,

  • Cardiovascular diseases,

  • Cancer.

He emphasized that addressing these challenges requires indigenous scientific solutions rooted in India's own research ecosystem, food traditions, and healthcare needs.

"Low-cost, high-quality and scientifically validated solutions will be the most useful for the country, and ICMR is fully committed to working in this direction," Shri Nadda stated.

The Health Minister also described the mission as an example of a:

"Whole of government" and "whole of systems" approach

where science, policymaking, agriculture, nutrition, and implementation mechanisms operate in an integrated and coordinated manner.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Calls Mission "Historic and Unprecedented"

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the SEHAT Mission as a "historic and unprecedented" initiative capable of fundamentally reshaping India's food and nutrition ecosystem.

He said India must now move beyond merely increasing foodgrain production and instead focus on producing:

• Nutrient-rich food,

• Disease-preventive diets,

• Sustainable food systems,

• Health-oriented agricultural outputs.

Highlighting India's ancient food philosophy, Shri Chouhan referred to the traditional concepts of:

• Hitbhuk (beneficial food),

• Mitbhuk (balanced food),

• Ritubhuk (seasonal food),saying these principles remain highly relevant in modern public health discourse.

"The time has come for India to deliberate not only on what people should eat, but also on what the country should grow," the Minister said.

Scientific Chain to Connect Farms, Food Plates and Public Health

According to Shri Chouhan, the core objective of the SEHAT Mission is to establish a scientific chain linking:

• Farms,

• Food systems,

• Nutrition patterns,

• Public health outcomes.

The mission will focus on:

• Bio-fortified crops,

• Nutrient-rich food products,

• Integrated farming systems,

• Farmer health and safety,

• Food-based solutions for lifestyle diseases,

• One Health approaches integrating human, animal and environmental health.

The Agriculture Minister stressed that India's next major agricultural target should not merely be food sufficiency, but:

Nutrition-rich agricultural production.

Push for Bio-Fortified and Traditional Nutri-Cereals

A major component of the SEHAT Mission involves promoting:

• Bio-fortified crops enriched with:

  • Zinc,

  • Iron,

  • Micronutrients,

• Traditional grains and millets such as:

  • Kodo millet,

  • Kutki,

  • Jowar,

  • Ragi,

  • Bajra.

The government believes such crops can play a major role in:

• Combating hidden hunger,

• Addressing micronutrient deficiencies,

• Improving dietary diversity,

• Preventing nutrition-linked diseases.

India has in recent years aggressively promoted millets globally, especially after the UN declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets following India's proposal.

Experts note that millets and traditional grains are increasingly being recognized worldwide for their:

• Low glycaemic index,

• High fibre content,

• Nutritional density,

• Climate resilience,

• Suitability for sustainable agriculture.

Integrated Farming to Improve Rural Nutrition

Shri Chouhan also emphasized that integrated farming systems should not be viewed solely as income-enhancement models but as pathways to healthier family nutrition and sustainable rural lifestyles.

He said combining:

• Crop cultivation,

• Fruits and vegetables,

• Animal husbandry,

• Fisheries,

• Beekeeping,can significantly improve access to balanced diets for rural households.

The Minister noted that improving nutritional outcomes in villages requires agriculture systems capable of supporting diversified and locally accessible food baskets.

Farmer Health and Safety to Become Major Focus Area

Another major pillar of the mission involves addressing occupational health risks faced by farmers and agricultural labourers.

Shri Chouhan stated that:

• Excessive pesticide exposure,

• Imbalanced chemical use,

• Hazardous farm conditions,

• Lack of safety awareness,pose serious health risks in rural India.

The mission will therefore support:

• Scientific interventions,

• Safe farming practices,

• Farmer awareness campaigns,

• Occupational safety measures,

• Health-risk reduction strategies.

"Food as Medicine" Approach to Lifestyle Diseases

The Agriculture Minister also stressed the need for research-driven food alternatives capable of preventing and managing lifestyle diseases.

Referring to diabetes and hypertension, he said that with appropriate scientific research and crop selection:

Food itself can function as medicine.

The mission aims to encourage long-term research into:

• Dietary patterns,

• Food systems,

• Disease trends,

• Preventive nutrition,

• Sustainable public health interventions.

SEHAT Mission to Build Science-Based Policy Framework

Officials associated with the programme said the initiative seeks to establish stronger institutional coordination between agriculture and medical research systems to ensure that:

• Food production,

• Nutrition policy,

• Disease prevention,

• Public health systems,work together through integrated scientific planning.

Expected outcomes of the mission include:

• Reduction in hidden hunger,

• Improved nutritional quality,

• Better farmer health and safety,

• Prevention of non-communicable diseases,

• Sustainable food systems,

• Stronger evidence-based policymaking,

• Improved public health outcomes.

The full form of SEHAT —

"Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation"

was also formally outlined during the programme.

India Building Integrated "One Health" Future

The launch of the mission reflects India's growing commitment to the broader global "One Health" framework, which integrates:

• Human health,

• Animal health,

• Environmental sustainability,

• Food systems,

• Disease surveillance.

Experts believe the SEHAT Mission could emerge as one of India's most important long-term policy interventions connecting agriculture with national healthcare strategy.

Congratulating scientists and institutions involved in the initiative, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the convergence of agriculture and healthcare would benefit not only India but humanity as a whole.

With India facing rising healthcare burdens alongside nutritional challenges, the government believes the SEHAT Mission could help create a future-ready, science-driven framework capable of improving national wellness outcomes through sustainable agricultural transformation.