FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA

---

Overview

• Food security encompasses availability, accessibility, and affordability for everyone.
• Low-income households face higher vulnerability during food production or distribution issues. 
• Public Distribution System (PDS) plays a crucial role in ensuring food security. 
• Government vigilance and action are vital when food security is at risk.
• Affordability is a key aspect of food security.
• Production and distribution of food crops impact food security. 
• Food security is a multifaceted challenge.

What is Food Security?

• Food security encompasses:
• Availability of food: This includes food production within the country, food imports, and the stock stored in government granaries.
• Accessibility: Ensuring that food is within reach of every person.
• Affordability: It implies that individuals have enough money to purchase sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs.
• Food security is achieved in a country when:
• In essence, food security goes beyond simply having two meals a day; it involves making food available, accessible, and affordable for everyone.
• Enough food is available for all individuals.
• All persons have the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality.
• There are no barriers to access to food.

Why Food Security?

• Food security is crucial because: 
• Vulnerability to Calamities: The poorest sections of society are often food insecure, and even those above the poverty line can face food insecurity during national disasters like earthquakes, droughts, floods, or crop failures.
• Impact of Calamities: During calamities like droughts, foodgrain production decreases, leading to food shortages and rising prices. High prices can make food unaffordable for some, potentially leading to starvation.
• Famine Risk: Prolonged calamities over wide areas can escalate into famine, marked by widespread deaths from starvation, epidemics, and weakened resistance due to hunger. 
• Historical Example: The devastating Famine of Bengal in 1943 serves as a stark reminder, causing the loss of three million lives in the Bengal province.
• In summary, food security is essential to safeguard against the dire consequences of food shortages and famine, especially during calamities that affect food production and accessibility.

Historical Definition of Food Security

• In the 1970s, food security was defined as the “availability at all times of an adequate supply of basic foodstuffs” (UN, 1975).
• Amartya Sen introduced a new dimension, emphasizing “access” to food through ‘entitlements,’ which include what one can produce, exchange in the market, and supplies provided by the state or society.
• This led to a significant shift in the understanding of food security.
• The 1995 World Food Summit redefined it as: “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life” (FAO, 1996).

India in Recent Time?

• While India has not experienced a tragedy on the scale of the Bengal Famine again, it remains concerning that even today, certain areas like Kalahandi and Kashipur in Orissa have been grappling with famine-like conditions for years, leading to reported cases of starvation deaths. Similar incidents have occurred in places like Baran district in Rajasthan, Palamau district in Jharkhand, and various remote areas in recent years.
• These occurrences underscore the ongoing need for food security in a country to always guarantee a continuous supply of food.

Ramu’s Case: Villager’s Dilemma

• Ramu, a dedicated laborer in Raipur village, works alongside his son, Somu, who tends to the Sarpanch’s cattle. Their year-round efforts earn them a meager Rs 1,000. With three sons and two daughters, only Somu and Ramu’s wife, Sunhari, contribute due to age. Sunhari juggles part-time livestock cleaning and agricultural work.
• Agriculture, their primary income source, is seasonal, leaving Ramu unemployed for about four months yearly. He seeks alternative work, sometimes in construction, to make ends meet. Yet, there are days of hardship when work is scarce, forcing his family to sleep hungry. Milk and vegetables are rare luxuries. For four months, they grapple with food insecurity.
• Ramu’s story highlights the economic challenges underlying food insecurity in households like his. Seasonal work and limited earning potential make it crucial to address these issues and provide support for families facing similar struggles.

Ahmed’s Case: Are the Cities Providing Enough

• Discover Ahmad, the diligent rickshaw puller in Bangalore. His mission? Providing for his family, including three brothers, two sisters, and elderly parents, who relocated from Jhumri Taliah to a humble jhuggi. Their lifeline? Ahmad’s daily rickshaw earnings, which, unfortunately, lack stability. Some days, he manages to save, while others barely suffice. Thankfully, Ahmad wields a vital resource: a yellow card, a PDS Card for those below the poverty line. This card grants him access to essential commodities like wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene oil at half the market price, ensuring his family’s survival.

Now this Brings us to the question that who are the Food Insecure in India?

• In India, food insecurity hits the hardest where it hurts most. We’re talking about landless folks, traditional artisans, service providers, those hustling to make a living, and even the folks out on the streets. In the cities, it’s the families with members working low-paying, seasonal gigs who struggle the most to put food on the table.

Food Insecurity Among Social Groups

• Let’s break it down. Food insecurity isn’t just about money; social stuff plays a part too. You’ve got your SCs, STs, and some lower-caste OBCs in the mix, especially those with not-so-great land or land that doesn’t produce much. Then there’s the wild card—natural disasters. They come in, people move out, and suddenly, food’s not so easy to come by.
• But here’s the kicker: women, especially those who are pregnant or nursing, and little kids under 5, are taking a hit. They’re a big chunk of the folks dealing with food insecurity.
• But guess what? Food troubles aren’t spread out evenly. You’ve got your poorer states, tribal places, and areas where Mother Nature isn’t exactly friendly. Think Uttar Pradesh (the eastern and south-eastern parts), Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. These spots have more than their fair share of folks going hungry.
• Now, let’s chat about hunger—the sidekick to food insecurity. It comes in two flavors: chronic and seasonal. Chronic hunger sticks around because people can’t afford enough grub, thanks to tiny paychecks. Seasonal hunger, though, depends on the seasons and whether there’s work to be had. In rural areas, it’s tied to farming, while in the city, it’s about construction gigs and such.

Percentage of Households with ‘Hunger’ in India

How is India Faring?

• Hunger in India? It’s going down, Check out that table for proof. India’s been on a mission for food self-sufficiency since they got their independence. And here’s the fun part: they pulled off something epic called the ‘Green Revolution,’ and it was all about ramping up wheat and rice production.
• Now, picture this: back in 1968, the Prime Minister at the time, Indira Gandhi, was so impressed with the progress that she put it on a stamp, and what did she call it? The ‘Wheat Revolution.’ But the party didn’t stop there; rice joined in too. The real champs in this story are Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, breaking records with a whopping 78.9 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2012-13.
• But hold on, not everyone got the memo. Places like Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Assam, and Tamil Nadu saw a dip in production. Meanwhile, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh were on fire, with some serious rice yield gains in 2012-13.

Food Security In India

• Alright, let’s talk about Food Security in India. It all started back in the early ’70s with the Green Revolution. Guess what? India dodged famines, even when the weather tried to mess things up.
• Fast forward thirty years, and India is proudly self-sufficient in foodgrains. How? Well, they grew all sorts of crops all over the place. But here’s the cool part: the government has this smart food security system with two main parts—the buffer stock and the public distribution system. It’s like their secret sauce for making sure there’s always enough food, no matter what.

What is Buffer Stock?

• Buffer Stock-a strategic reserve of wheat and rice-is meticulously built by the government through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). This reserve is sourced from states with surplus production, and farmers benefit from a predetermined Minimum Support Price (MSP), a government-backed incentive to boost crop production.
• But why is this essential? The answer lies in ensuring equitable access to food. By offering these foodgrains at a reduced price known as the Issue Price, the government not only supports those in deficit areas but also aids the less fortunate. Moreover, it’s a powerful tool to combat food shortages caused by adverse weather conditions or disasters.

Public Distribution System

• The Public Distribution System (PDS) is a lifeline for millions in India. This government initiative ensures that essential food items, procured by the FCI, reach those who need them most. Ration shops, known as Fair Price Shops, are ubiquitous, providing staples like grains, sugar, and cooking oil at prices significantly below market rates.
• Having a ration card grants you access to this essential resource. You can secure a fixed quantity of these items every month, helping you manage your household expenses more efficiently. It’s a program with a rich history, born out of necessity during challenging times, and it continues to play a vital role in ensuring food security.

What’s the Current Situation?

• Let’s talk about the Public Distribution System (PDS) – you know, the big deal when it comes to making sure everyone gets enough to eat. It’s like a superhero that’s gone through some major costume changes over the years.
• Back in the day, it was all about equality, like an all-you-can-eat buffet for everyone. But then, in 1992, things got spiced up with the Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS). It was like PDS 2.0, reaching remote areas that were often left out.
• Fast forward to 1997, and we got the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). This one had a cool twist – different prices for different folks, making sure the needy got a better deal.
• And in 2000, they brought in two heavy hitters: the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and the Annapurna Scheme (APS). These programs targeted the “poorest of the poor” and “indigent senior citizens,” making sure no one goes hungry.
• Through all these changes, the PDS has been a real food savior, keeping prices stable, making sure food is always on the menu, and preventing big hunger crises. But yeah, it’s had its share of food going to waste and grain stockpiles piling up.

• Picture this: It’s 2014, and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is sitting on a whopping 65.3 million tonnes of wheat and rice – way more than they need. It’s like having a mountain of food!
• Now, things start to get interesting. The government rolls out various schemes to deal with this surplus. But here’s the twist – many experts believe that having such a massive food stockpile is a bad idea. It’s expensive to store, a lot of it goes to waste, and the quality of the grains deteriorates over time. So, should we hit the pause button on raising the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for a few years? That’s a hot topic.
• But wait, there’s more to this story. The reason we have this surplus in the first place is because some states, like Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh, have been pushing hard for higher MSPs. These states are like the heavyweights of food production. They mainly focus on two crops – wheat and rice. Unfortunately, this focus has sidelined coarse grains, which happen to be the staple diet for many poor folks.
• And there’s a downside to this intense rice cultivation – it’s not very eco-friendly. It’s using up a lot of water, which is causing environmental problems and even lowering water levels. This could spell trouble for the future of agriculture in these regions.
• Continuing the discussion in plain English. Back in the day, folks in the countryside were chowing down on about 6.38 Kg of grain per person each month in 2004-05. But when 2011-12 rolled around, they were scraping by on 5.98 Kg. In the cities, it was the same story with rice – it went from 4.71 Kg to 4.19 Kg in the same timeframe.
• But hold on to your hats, there’s a twist! The Public Distribution System (PDS) has been on fire. PDS rice consumption has shot up, doubling in rural areas and jumping by 66% in the concrete jungles since 2004-05. And guess what? PDS wheat decided to join the party, doubling its per person munching in both rural and city areas since 2004-05.

Role of Cooperative in Food Security

• When it comes to safeguarding India’s food security, there’s a silent army doing the heavy lifting: Cooperatives. These unsung heroes are strategically positioned in the southern and western regions, and they mean business. Imagine this: they’ve set up shop, offering affordable essentials, ensuring that no one, absolutely no one, goes to bed hungry. Tamil Nadu is a shining example; a staggering 94% of their fair price shops are under cooperative stewardship. Delhi’s Mother Dairy? They’re setting the standard, providing milk and vegetables at rates that are government-approved, so you don’t have to break the bank to eat well. And then there’s Amul, the trailblazer from Gujarat, responsible for the White Revolution that transformed India’s dairy landscape. These are just glimpses of the powerful cooperatives dotting the nation, committed to the cause of ensuring food security for all.