Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have jointly launched “SEHAT – Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation,” a national mission-mode programme aimed at strengthening the convergence of agriculture, nutrition, and public health.
The initiative seeks to translate agricultural advancements into measurable health benefits for people across India by aligning agricultural innovation with national health priorities.
Union Ministers Launch National Initiative
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan jointly unveiled the initiative in the presence of senior policymakers, scientists, and healthcare and agriculture stakeholders.
During the event, Shri J.P. Nadda described the launch of SEHAT as a “historic step” and highlighted the transformation in India’s healthcare approach under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Government Focuses on Preventive and Holistic Healthcare
Addressing the gathering, Shri Nadda said India has steadily moved from a reactive and curative healthcare model to a preventive, proactive, and holistic system over the past decade.
He explained that SEHAT reflects this broader policy shift and demonstrates the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration between health and agriculture.
Furthermore, he stated that India has transitioned from relying on imported technologies to developing indigenous, data-driven innovations tailored to the country’s specific healthcare needs.
He also pointed out that systems that once functioned independently are now increasingly integrated and technology-enabled, leading to more efficient healthcare delivery.
Focus on Affordable Healthcare and Indigenous Innovation
Shri Nadda reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare while strengthening prevention, early diagnosis, and continuity of care.
At the same time, he highlighted the critical role of ICMR in advancing research, generating scientific evidence, and supporting healthcare policymaking.
He stressed the need to identify India’s major health challenges and develop targeted, low-cost, high-quality indigenous solutions, particularly in diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
According to him, financial resources would not be a limitation for impactful and outcome-based innovations.
Nutrition and Agriculture Key to Tackling Lifestyle Diseases
Drawing attention to India’s changing disease profile, Shri Nadda said the country currently faces a dual burden of malnutrition and rising non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer.
Therefore, he emphasised the importance of diet and nutrition in disease prevention and management. He also reiterated the Prime Minister’s appeal to reduce the consumption of sugar, salt, and oil.
He noted that while ICAR can ensure the availability of nutritious and appropriate food systems, ICMR can scientifically validate these interventions through evidence-based research.
As a result, he stated that many solutions to emerging health challenges lie within the agriculture sector itself.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan Highlights Agriculture–Health Link
Speaking at the event, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised the close relationship between agriculture and health, stating that a healthy nation depends on a well-nourished population.
He described the joint initiative by ICMR and ICAR as an “unprecedented and historic” collaboration that addresses emerging public health challenges through integrated action.
In addition, he highlighted the importance of generating scientific evidence to demonstrate the health benefits of specific crops and agricultural practices.
According to him, aligning agricultural production with nutritional needs can significantly improve public health outcomes.
SEHAT Mission to Promote Nutritious and Sustainable Food Systems
Shri Chouhan further stated that the SEHAT mission would help ensure that food production aligns with the health requirements of the population.
He also highlighted the mission’s five priority pillars and stressed the need to promote organic and sustainable farming practices to improve public health.
Moreover, he underscored the importance of educating people about healthy eating habits and avoiding unhealthy foods, particularly in the context of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
“With the right approach, food itself can become medicine,” he remarked.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl Stresses Need for Integrated Research
Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General of ICMR, Dr. Rajiv Bahl highlighted the urgent need to align agriculture with public health goals.
He stated that India currently faces a dual burden of undernutrition and overnutrition alongside a rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
Consequently, he stressed that agriculture must evolve beyond food production and contribute directly to improving nutrition and health outcomes.
Dr. Bahl also highlighted the importance of integrating agriculture, nutrition, and health research to create nutrition-sensitive food systems that enhance dietary diversity, address nutrient deficiencies, and support disease prevention and management.
Mission Will Focus on Five National Priority Areas
The SEHAT initiative will focus on five key areas of national importance:
- Development and evaluation of biofortified and nutrient-rich crop varieties
- Strengthening integrated farming systems to improve dietary diversity and farm resilience
- Addressing occupational health risks among agricultural workers
- Promoting agriculture-based strategies for preventing and managing non-communicable diseases
- Strengthening One Health preparedness through integrated surveillance, diagnostics, and research
Additionally, the mission aims to generate robust scientific evidence, develop scalable intervention models, strengthen inter-sectoral collaboration, and support data-driven policymaking.
SEHAT Marks Major Step Towards Integrated Public Health
As reported by pib.gov.in, the launch of SEHAT represents a significant move toward adopting an integrated approach to healthcare by recognising agriculture as a major determinant of public health outcomes.
The event was also attended by Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare; Dr. Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary DARE and Director General of ICAR; Ms. Anu Nagar, Additional Secretary, Department of Health Research; and Dr. D.K. Yadava, Deputy Director General, Crop Science, ICAR.