Social Studies

Class 9th
(Economics)
Chapter 4: Food Security in India

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Food is essential for a person to live. Food security means availability, accessibility and
affordability of food throughout the lifetime of every person. Food availability means food
production within the country, food imports and the stocks of previous years stored in
government granaries. Accessibility means food is within the reach of every person.
Affordability means that a person has enough sources to buy sufficient, safe, and nutritious
food.

What is food security?

Food security has the following dimensions

(a) availability of food means food production within the country, food imports and the
previous year’s stock stored in government granaries.

(b) accessibility means food is within reach of every person.

(c) affordability implies that an individual has enough money to buy sufficient, safe and
nutritious food to meet one’s dietary needs.

Food security is ensured in a country only if

(1) enough food is available for all the persons

(2) all persons have the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality

(3) there is no barrier on access to food.

New Dimension to Food Security

According to Amartya Sen, the access to food through what he called entitlement—a
combination of what one can produce and exchange in the market along with state or other
socially provided supplies.

Effects of Calamity

During a natural calamity, the total production level decreases, thereby it creates a shortage of
food. This leads to a price increase and people will not be able to buy food. Thus, a situation of
starvation may lead to famine in those affected areas.

Famine means widespread deaths occur because of starvation and epidemics caused by forced
ECONOMICS FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA
use of contaminated water or decaying food and loss of body resistance because of weakening
from starvation. For example, the famine of Bengal in 1943.

Food Security

There are many groups of people with no land—traditional artisans and petty self-employed—
who suffer from food and nutrition insecurity in India. The working group in the urban areas is
employed in ill-paid occupations and a casual labour market.

▪ Reasons for food insecurity: The social composition

o SCs, STs and other OBCs who have either poor land-base or low productivity.

o Because of natural disasters, people migrate to different areas in search of work.

▪ Food insecure people

o A large proportion of pregnant, nursing mothers and children under the age of 5 years.

o Backward states, tribal and remote areas, regions prone to natural disasters.

Hunger

There are two types of hunger. These are as follows

(i) Chronic Hunger

It is a consequence of a diet regularly deficient in quantity and quality this is caused due to lack
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of income to buy food for survival. Chronic hunger has reduced in rural areas from 2.3% of
households in 1983 to 0.7% in 1999 – 2000. In urban areas, it has reduced from 0.8% to 0.3%
during the same period.

(ii) Seasonal Hunger

It is related to seasonal cycles of food growing and harvesting. It affects landless* agricultural
labourers in rural areas the most. In urban areas, casual construction workers suffer from this
during the time when they do not get work. The proportion of households experiencing
seasonal hunger in rural areas has reduced significantly from 16.2% in 1983 to 2.6% in 1999-
2000. In urban areas, it has reduced from 5.6% to only 0.6% during the reference period.

The eradication of hunger and reducing the risks of future hunger is required to attain food
security. Hunger has chronic and seasonal dimensions. Chronic hunger is a consequence of
inadequate food in terms of quantity and quality. Seasonal hunger is related to cycles of
growing and harvesting food.

Indian agriculture adopted a new strategy which resulted in the Green Revolution particularly
in the production of wheat and rice. In July 1968, the Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi
released a special stamp titled ‘Wheat Revolution’.

Food Security in India

With the advent of the Green Revolution in the early 1970s, India has become self-sufficient in
food grains. The Government ensured the availability of food grains in adverse weather and a
well-designed food security system such as buffer stock and public distribution system.

Buffer Stock

Buffer stock is the stock of food grains such as wheat and rice procured by the Government
through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). FCI purchases grains from the farmers in surplus
states and they are paid a minimum support price. These grains are distributed among the
poor section in the deficit areas at a price (issue price) lower than the market price.

Programmes For Food Security in India

In mid-1970s, National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) reported the high incidence of
poverty level. Due to this, three important food intervention programmed were introduced.

They are

• Public Distribution System (PDS) for food grains

• Food-For Work (FfW) programme.

Public Distribution System (PDS) Through government regulated ration shops, the food
procured by the FCI is distributed among the poorer sections of the society. This is called the
Public Distribution System (PDS). Ration shops are now present in most localities, villages,
towns and cities. There are about 5.5 lakh ration shops all over the country. Ration shops are
also known as fair price shops. They keep stock of food grains, sugar, kerosene oil for cooking.
These items are sold to people at a price lower than the market price. Any family with a ration
card can buy. a stipulated amount of these items (e.g. 35 kg of grains, 5 liters of kerosene, 5 kg
of sugar, etc) every month from the nearby ration shop. The ration cards are of three kinds,
colour-coded for easy recognition

• Antyodaya card for the poorest of the poor.

• BPL card for families below the poverty line.

• APL card for all others.

Public Distribution System

In a public distribution system, food procured by FCI is distributed among the poor people
through government- regulated shops. Three kinds of ration cards are distributed among the
people to avail food grains, sugar and kerosene oil for cooking at a lower price from these fair
price shops. Antyodaya cards are provided to the poorest of the poor, below poverty line (BPL)
cards for those below the poverty line and above poverty line (APL) cards for all the others.

Because of the high incidence of poverty, three

the public distribution system in existence earlier but strengthened thereafter for food grains,
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) introduced in 1975 and the Food-for-Work
(FFW) programme in 1977–78.
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Current Status of the Public Distribution System

In 1992, the Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) was introduced in 1700 blocks in the
country. The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was introduced to adopt the principle
of targeting the poor in all areas. In 2000, two special programmers were launched- Antyodaya
Anna Yojana (AAY) and the Annapurna Scheme (APS). They focused on the special target
groups of the poorest of the poor and indigent senior citizens, respectively.

• AYY: One crore of the poorest among the BPL families are covered under this scheme.
Twenty-five kilograms of food grains were made available to each eligible family at a
subsidised rate of Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 3 per kg for rice. It has been further
expanded to two crore families covered under this scheme.

o Subsidy is a payment which the Government makes to a producer to supplement the

o In July 2002, the stock of wheat and rice with FCI was 63 million tonnes; this was much
more than the minimum buffer norms of 24.3 million tonnes.

o The storage of massive food grains is very undesirable and responsible for high-carrying
costs. Freezing the minimum support price (MSP) for few years needs to be considered.

o Rising MSP has raised the maintenance cost of procuring food grains by the
Government. Rising transport and storage costs of the FCI are other contributing factors
for the increase in MSP.
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o Increase in MSP has induced farmers to divert land from the production of coarse grains
to the production of wheat and rice.

• Another major area of concern is the ineffectiveness of PDS which is clear from the fact
that the average consumption of PDS grain at the all-India level is only 1 kg per person per
month. As a result, the poor have to depend on markets rather than ration shops for the
need of food.

• PDS dealers were involved in malpractices such as diverting food grains to the open market
for a better margin.

Role of Cooperatives in Food Security

Cooperative societies set up shops to sell low-priced goods to poor people. These cooperatives
play an important role in food security in India.

• Of all fair price shops running in Tamil Nadu, nearly 94% are being run by cooperatives.

• In Delhi, Mother Dairy is making strides in the provision of milk and vegetables to
consumers at a controlled rate decided by the Government.

• In milk and milk products, Amul from Gujarat is another cooperative society.

• The Academy of Development Science (ADS) has facilitated a network of NGOs for setting
up grain banks in different regions of Maharashtra.

In India, the cooperatives are also playing an important role in food security especially in the
southern and western parts of the country. The cooperative societies set up shops to sell low
priced goods to poor people. Some of the examples of cooperative societies are Mother Dairy
in Delhi, Amul from Gujarat, Academy of Development Science (ADS) in Maharashtra.
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Important Questions
Multiple Choice questions-
Question 1. Chronic hunger is a consequence of diets persistently inadequate:
(a) in term of quality only
(b) in term of quantity only
(c) in term of quantity and quality
(d) none of the above
Question 2. Seasonal hunger is a type of hunger when a person:
(a) is unable to get food for the entire year
(b) is able to get food for the entire year
(c) is able to get work for the entire year
(d) is unable to get work for the entire year
Question 3. Since independence, India is aiming at self-sufficiency in:
(a) food security
(b) food grains
(c) work force
(d) none of these
Question 4. The highest rate of growth in foodgrain was achieved in:
(a) Punjab and Bihar
(b) Haryana and Orissa
(c) Punjab and Haryana
(d) Punjab
Question 5. There are ………….. lakh ration shops all over the country:
(a) 4.4
(b) 4.5
(c) 4.6
(d) 4.7
Question 6. Fair Price Shops keep stock of:
(a) only food grains
(b) food grains and sugar
(c) food grain, sugar and kerosene oil
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(d) none of the above
Question 7. Food security means:
(a) availability of food to all people at all times.
(b) availability and accessibility of food as all people at all times.
(c) availability, accessibility and affordability of food to all people at all times.
(d) none of the above.
Question 8. The famine of Bengal occurred is:
(a) 1941
(b) 1942
(c) 1943
(d) 1944
Question 9. Starvation deaths are also reported in Baran district of:
(a) West Bengal
(b) Bihar
(c) Orissa
(d) Rajasthan
Question 10. Food security in needed in a country:
(a) to ensure food at all times
(b) to ensure food to the rich
(c) to ensure food at sometimes
(d) none of the above
Question 11. The food insecure people are disproportionately large:
(a) in all the states of India
(b) in the states of Bihar and Orissa
(c) in some region of the country
(d) none of the above.
Question 12. Hunger is another aspect indicating:
(a) food security
(b) food insecurity
(c) to meet their demands
(d) none of the above
Very Short Questions-
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Question 1. What does ‘Food Security’ mean?
Question 2. On what factors does food security depend on?
Question 3. How does the situation of starvation arise?
Question 4. Which was the most devastating famine to have occurred in India?
Question 5. What kind of people in rural areas are food insecure?
Question 6. Which other parts of society are prone to food insecurity?
Question 7. How people affected by natural disasters are food insecure?
Question 8. Does hungers cause food insecurity?
Question 9. Which states achieved the highest rate of growth in food grain production during Green
Revolution?
Question 10. Which states continued to lag behind in food production despite Green Revolution?
Short Questions-
Question 1. Explain the three dimensions of food security.
Question 2. How is food security ensured in a country?
Question 3. What kind of people faces food insecurity?
Question 4. How is food security affected during a calamity?
Question 5. How do famines lead to widespread deaths?
Question 6. In which areas of India even today famine has caused starvation deaths?
Question 7. What type of people in urban areas are food insecure?
Question 8. Is it true that a high incidence of malnutrition prevails among women?
Question 9. In which regions are food insecure people disproportionately large in our country?
Question 10. Which states of India account for the largest number of food insecure people?
Long Questions-
Question 1. What are the dimensions of ‘food security’?
Question 2. Why do we need ‘food security’?
Question 3. How is food security affected during a calamity?
Question 4. What is a ‘famine’? Which states in India are affected by famines?
Question 5. Who are the most affected food insecure people in India?
Question 6. How are food insecure people disproportionately large in some regions of the
country?
Question 7. Cite evidences which explain that India is self-sufficient in food grain production.
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MCQ Answers-
1. Answer: (c) in term of quantity and quality
2. Answer: (c) is able to get work for the entire year
3. Answer: (b) food grains
4. Answer: (c) Punjab and Haryana
5. Answer: (c) 4.6
6. Answer: (c) food grain, sugar and kerosene oil
7. Answer: (c) availability, accessibility and affordability of food to all people at all times.
8. Answer: (c) 1943
9. Answer: (d) Rajasthan
10. Answer: (a) to ensure food at all times
11. Answer: (c) in some region of the country
12. Answer: (b) food insecurity
Very Short Answers-
1. Answer: Food security means availability, accessibility and affordability of food to all people at all
times.
2. Answer: Food security depends on the Public Distribution System (PDS) and government vigilance
and action at times when this security is threatened.
3. Answer: If any calamity happens in a very widespread area or is stretched over a large time period, it
may cause a situation of starvation. A massive starvation might take the form of famine.
4. Answer: The most devastating famine that had occurred in India was the famine of Bengal in 1943.
This famine killed thirty lakh people in the province of Bengal.
5. Answer: The worst affected groups are landless people with little or no land to depend upon,
traditional artisans, providers of traditional services, petty self employed workers and destitute
including beggars.
6. Answer: The SCs, STs and some sections of OBCs who have either poor land base or very low land
productivity are prone to food insecurity.
7. Answer: The people affected by natural disasters, who have to migrate to other areas in search of
work, are also among the most food insecure people, since they are not settled in their life.
8. Answer: Hunger is another aspect indicating food insecurity, arising from poverty.
9. Answer: Punjab and Haryana achieved the highest rate of growth in the production of wheat.
10.Answer: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and the northeastern states lagged
behind in food production, despite Green Revolution.
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Short Answers-
1. Answer: Availability of food means food production within the country, accessibility means food
within reach of every person and affordability is that an individual has enough money to buy
sufficient safe food.
2. Answer: Food security is ensured in a country only if enough food is available for all persons, all
persons have the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality and there is no barrier on access to
food.
3. Answer: The poorest section of the society might be food insecure most of the times while persons
above the poverty line might also be food insecure when the country faces a national
disaster/calamity like drought, flood, tsunami, widespread failure of crops causing famine, etc.
4. Answer: Due to a national calamity say, drought, total production of food grain decreases. It creates
a shortage of food in the affected areas. Due to shortage of food the prices go up. At the high prices,
many people cannot afford to buy food.
5. Answer: A famine is characterised by widespread deaths due to starvation and epidemics caused by
forced use of contaminated water or decaying food and loss of body resistance due to weakening
from starvation.
6. Answer: Even today there are places like Kalahandi district and Kashipur tehsil in Raigarh district of
Odisha where Some starvation deaths have been reported due to famine like conditions. Starvation
deaths are also reported in Baran district of Rajasthan and Palamao district of Jharkhand.
7. Answer: In the urban areas, the food insecure families are those whose working members are
generally employed in ill-paid occupations and casual labour market. These workers are largely
engaged in seasonal activities and are paid very low wages that just ensure basic survival.
8. Answer: This is a matter of serious concern as it is true. It puts even the unborn baby at the risk of
malnutrition. A large proportion of pregnant and nursing mothers and children under the age of 5
years constitute an important segment of food insecure population.
9. Answer: The food insecure people are disproportionately large in some regions of the country, such
as economically backward states with high incidence of poverty, tribal and remote areas, regions
more prone to natural disasters, etc.
10. Answer: The states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts of
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra account for the largest number of food insecure people in the
country.
Long Answers-
1. Answer: The dimensions of food security are:
i. Availability of food: It is the food production within the country including food imports
and previous year stock of food in government granaries.
ii. Accessibility: This means food within the reach of every person.
iii. Affordability: This means whether the individual has enough money to buy sufficient and
ECONOMICS FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA
nutritious food.
2. Answer: Food security is needed because:
i. The poorest section of the society might be food insecure most of the times.
ii. People above the poverty line might also be food insecure when the country faces a
national disaster or calamity like an earthquake, drought, flood, tsunami, etc.
iii. There can also be a widespread failure of crops causing famines, etc.
3. Answer:
i. Due to a natural calamity, total production of food grains decreases.
ii. It creates a shortage of food in the affected area.
iii. Due to shortage of food, the prices go up.
iv. At higher prices, some people cannot afford to buy food.
v. If such a calamity occurs in a widespread area, it may cause a situation of starvation.
vi. A massive situation of starvation might turn into a famine.
4. Answer: A famine is characterised by widespread deaths due to starvation and epidemics
caused by forced use of contaminated water or decaying food and loss of body resistance due
to weakening from starvation:
i. The most devastating famine that occurred in India was the Famine of Bengal in 1943. This
famine killed 30 lakh people in the province of Bengal.
ii. Even today, there are places like Kalahandi and Kashipur in Orissa, where famine-like
conditions have been existing for many years and starvation deaths have also been reported.
iii. Starvation deaths are also reported in Baran district of Rajasthan, Palamau district of
Jharkhand and many other remote areas during the recent years.
5. Answer: Worst affected people in rural areas are:
i. Landless people with little or no land to depend on.
ii. The traditional artisans.
iii. Providers of traditional services like Pandits performing religious ceremonies.
iv. Petty, self-employed workers.
v. Poor and the destitute including beggars.
Worst affected people in urban areas are:
i. Those families are food insecure whose working members are generally employed in ill-paid
occupations.
ii. Casual labour in the market.
iii. These workers are mostly engaged in seasonal activities and are paid very low wages that just
ensure their bare survival.
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6. Answer:
i. There are some states which are economically backward states with high incidence of poverty.
ii. These are the tribal and remote areas, and regions more prone to natural disasters, etc.
iii. In fact, the states of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya
Pradesh and Maharashtra account for the largest number of food insecure people in the
country.
7. Answer: India has become self-sufficient in food grain production during the last thirty years.
i. This is because of a variety of crops grown all over the country.
ii. The availability of food grains even in adverse weather conditions or otherwise, has further
been ensured with a carefully designed food security system by the government.
iii. This system has two components:
(a) Buffer stocks and
(b) Public distribution system.