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Economics Overview

  • Food Security: Refers to the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food for all individuals at all times.

    • Poor households are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity during issues of production or distribution.

    • Food security relies on the Public Distribution System (PDS), government vigilance, and proactive actions during threats.

Dimensions of Food Security

  • Availability: Includes domestic food production, food imports, and stored food stocks from previous years.

  • Accessibility: Ensures food is reachable for every person.

  • Affordability: Individuals must possess sufficient finances to purchase safe and nutritious food meeting dietary needs.

Requirements for Food Security

  1. Sufficient food must be available for everyone.

  2. All individuals need the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality.

  3. There must be no hindrances in accessing food.

Importance of Food Security

  • Vulnerable Groups: The poorest segments may experience food insecurity continually, while those above the poverty line can also become food insecure during national disasters like earthquakes or droughts.

  • Calamity Effects: Natural disasters like drought can dramatically reduce food production, leading to food shortages. Elevated prices can render food unaffordable for many, potentially leading to starvation or famine.

Historical Context of Food Security

  • 1970s Definition: Initially emphasized adequate supply of basic foodstuffs (UN, 1975).

  • Amartya Sen's Contribution: Introduced the concept of 'entitlements', emphasizing access through production, market exchange, and state provisions.

  • 1995 World Food Summit: Defined food security as having physical and economic access to nutritious food at all times.

Food Security in India

Historical Famine Instances

  • Bengal Famine (1943): Particularly devastating; affected agricultural laborers, fishermen, and casual workers, with many death reports due to starvation.

    • Statistics: Example data shows drastic declines in rice production and contributing factors.

Current Food Insecurity Issues

  • Areas Affected: Some regions in India, such as Kalahandi and Kashipur, report ongoing famine-like conditions.

  • Food-Insecure Populations: Includes landless laborers, low-wage workers, and casual laborers in urban settings.

Factors Leading to Food Insecurity

  • Chronic Hunger: Linked to inadequate diets and persistent poverty.

  • Seasonal Hunger: Related to agricultural cycles; prevalent among rural families during off-seasons.

Government Initiatives for Food Security

  • Self-Sufficiency Goal: Post-Independence India focused on achieving self-sufficiency in food grains via the Green Revolution, significantly increasing wheat and rice production.

  • Buffer Stock Creation: Government stores food grains to manage shortages and stabilize prices; essential for distribution during crises.

Public Distribution System (PDS)

  • Functioning: Distributes procured food through government-regulated shops to low-income families at affordable prices.

  • Card Types:

    • Antyodaya: For the poorest families.

    • BPL: Below poverty line.

    • APL: Above poverty line.

National Food Security Act (2013)

  • Coverage: Aims to provide food and nutritional security at affordable prices.

  • Eligibility: Targets a large portion of the rural and urban population for benefits.

Challenges in the Food Security System

  • Instances of hunger persist despite record buffer stocks, attributed to management issues and inefficiencies in PDS operations.

  • Corruption and Mismanagement: Issues include misallocation of grains, selling inadequate quality food, and irregular shop functioning.

Role of Cooperatives

  • Cooperatives contribute significantly to food security by providing low-priced goods and implementing food intervention programs, enabling access for impoverished communities.

Summary

  • Food security relies on the continuous availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious food. While many have benefited from government initiatives, food insecurity persists in certain segments, necessitating continued attention and improvement in food security systems.