India is a country that faces the challenge of feeding its large population with limited resources. With rising food prices, climate change and rapid urbanization, India is likely to face even more severe challenges in terms of providing sustainable food security to its citizens. In this article, we will explore the various ways India can combat food scarcity and ensure sustainable food security for all its citizens.
Introduction
The term ‘food security’ has been defined by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization as “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” India is the world’s second most populous country with over 1.3 billion people, and it is projected to be the world’s most populous country by 2027. With such a large population, ensuring food security is a daunting task for the Indian government.
Food scarcity is a major problem in India. Over 15% of households in India are undernourished, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). The NFHS also found that 37% of children under five years old are stunted (too short for their age), and 21% are wasted (thin for their height). These figures are alarming, and they underscore the urgent need for action to combat food insecurity in India.
There are many reasons why food insecurity exists in India. One reason is simply that there is not enough food to go around. This is due to factors such as climate change, which has led to droughts and crop failures, and increasing demand from a growing population. Another reason is that much of the food that is produced in India is not of good quality or nutritious value. For example, nearly 60% of cereals consumed in India are downgraded because of poor-quality grains.
What is Food Scarcity?
Food scarcity is a major problem in India. It is defined as the lack of access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), about 42 percent of households in India are food insecure. This means that they do not have reliable access to enough quantity or quality of food to meet their needs.
The main reasons for food insecurity in India are poverty, unemployment, and under-employment. Over 60 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, which is defined as an income of Rs. 819 per person per month in rural areas and Rs. 1,036 per person per month in urban areas. This means that many people cannot afford to purchase enough food to meet their needs. In addition, nearly 30 percent of the workforce is unemployed or underemployed. This means that they are not earning enough money to buy food for their families.
The government of India has taken several steps to combat food insecurity and ensure sustainable food security. The first step is to increase agricultural production. The government has launched several initiatives to promote agricultural growth, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). These schemes provide financial assistance to farmers and encourage them to adopt new technologies and practices that can increase yield.
The second step is to improve access to food by expanding social safety net programs.
Causes of Food Scarcity in India
The primary cause of food scarcity in India is the country’s rapidly growing population. India is projected to be the world’s most populous country by 2027, with an estimated 1.7 billion people. This rapid population growth is putting a strain on the country’s resources, including its food supply.
India has a largely agrarian economy, with over 60% of the population employed in the agricultural sector. However, the sector only contributes around 15% to the country’s GDP. This is due to a number of factors, including inefficient farming practices, limited access to technology and inputs, and small landholdings. As a result, Indian farmers are not able to produce enough food to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.
In addition to the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, India also has to contend with climate change. The country experiences frequent droughts and floods, which damage crops and lead to crop loss. Climate change is also causing an increase in temperatures, which is adversely affecting crop yields.
All of these factors are contributing to food scarcity in India and making it difficult for the country to ensure food security for its citizens.
Solutions to Combat Food Scarcity
There are a number of potential solutions to combat food scarcity and ensure sustainable food security in India. One solution is to increase agricultural productivity through the use of technology and better management practices. This can be done by providing small farmers with access to information and resources, as well as training in modern farming techniques.
Another solution is to improve storage and transportation infrastructure so that food can be more easily distributed from areas of surplus to areas of need. This includes both physical infrastructure such as roads, railways, and warehouses, as well as information systems that can track supplies and identify where needs are greatest.
A third solution is to reduce wastage throughout the food system, from farm to table. This includes reducing losses during production, distribution, and consumption. One way to do this is through education campaigns that encourage people to only purchase what they need and to not let food go to waste.
All of these solutions require significant investment of time, money, and resources. But if India is serious about combating food scarcity and ensuring sustainable food security, these are investments that must be made.
– Increase Agricultural Productivity
The Agricultural and Processed Food Product Export Development Authority (APEDA) was set up by the Government of India under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 1985 for the development and promotion of agricultural exports from India. APEDA is mandated with responsibility for export promotion and development of 10 agricultural products, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, livestock products, dairy products, horticulture products, Tea, Coffee and Cocoa.
In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘One World One Market’, APEDA is committed to exploring new markets for Indian agricultural products and promoting their export to achieve greater global presence. The organisation also provides support to Indian exporters in terms of market information, quality control & standardisation, packaging & labelling requirements, certification procedures etc. In addition, APEDA undertakes promotional activities such as organising buyer-seller meets/exhibitions/trade fairs both in India and abroad.
APEDA’s efforts have resulted in a significant increase in agricultural exports from India in recent years. In 2013-14, agricultural exports from India stood at Rs 1 lakh crore (US$ 16.4 billion), an increase of Rs 22 thousand crore (US$ 3.6 billion) over the previous year. This growth was led by strong performance in exports of rice, meat & meat products, cotton & cotton products as well as spices & condiments.
-Improve Water Management
Water is a critical resource for agriculture and food production. Indian agriculture currently faces the challenge of diminishing water availability due to climate change and the over-exploitation of groundwater resources. In order to combat food scarcity and ensure sustainable food security, it is essential to improve water management in India.
There are several measures that can be taken to improve water management in India. One measure is to promote rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting can help to recharge groundwater resources and reduce dependence on surface water sources. Another measure is to improve irrigation efficiency. This can be done by promoting the use of micro-irrigation systems, which deliver water directly to the roots of plants and reduce wastage.
Improving water management is essential for combating food scarcity and ensuring sustainable food security in India. By taking measures such as rainwater harvesting and promoting irrigation efficiency, we can make sure that our precious water resources are used more efficiently and sustainably.
– Promote Sustainable Farming Practices
The need for sustainable farming practices has never been more urgent than it is today. With the world’s population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the demand for food will only continue to increase. Indian farmers will need to produce more food with fewer resources, and sustainable farming practices are key to meeting this challenge.
Sustainable farming practices help conserve natural resources, improve soil health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These practices also benefit farmers by improving yields and reducing input costs.
There are many ways that Indian farmers can adopt sustainable farming practices. One way is to practice crop rotation, which helps improve soil health and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Farmers can also implement water-saving irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation. And, using organic methods to control pests and diseases can help reduce the need for harmful pesticides and herbicides.
The government of India has taken some steps to promote sustainable farming practices, but more needs to be done. The government should provide training and technical assistance to farmers so they can adopt these practices on their farms. In addition, the government should create incentives for farmers to switch to sustainable methods, such as subsidies or tax breaks.
By adopting sustainable farming practices, Indian farmers can help ensure food security for future generations while conserving natural resources and protecting the environment.
– Increase Investments in Food Production & Storage Facilities
The Government of India has been working hard to increase investments in food production and storage facilities in order to combat food scarcity and ensure sustainable food security.
The NFSM is focused on increasing food production, reducing wastage, and improving storage and distribution infrastructure. This will help reduce wastage of foodgrains and ensure that more grains are available for consumption.
In addition to these initiatives, the government is also working on creating a network of cold storage facilities across the country. This will help preserve perishable foods such as fruits and vegetables, and make them available for consumption throughout the year. The government has also created a National Agricultural Market (NAM) to connect farmers with buyers and ensure better prices for their produce.
These are just some of the steps that the Government of India is taking to combat food scarcity and ensure sustainable food security. With continued efforts, India will be able to meet its goal of ensuring access to adequate quantities of safe and nutritious food for all its citizens.
Conclusion
India must take measures to ensure its food security and tackle the issues of food scarcity. To do this, it needs to invest in agricultural research and development, implement sustainable farming practices, improve irrigation network infrastructure, promote crop diversification, strengthen government programs and policies targeted at improving access to food for vulnerable populations, and increase investment in nutrition-sensitive agriculture. By implementing these initiatives India can combat food scarcity while also ensuring sustainable food security.