HUNGER
AND FOOD SECURITY – ECONOMY
News:
What has to be done to
get to Zero Hunger?
What's
in the news?
● Recently
released Global Report on the Food Crises (GRFC) 2023 estimated that between
691 million and 783 million people in the world, suffer from hunger in 2022.
What
is food security?
● According
to the World Food Summit, food
security is defined as “When all people, at all times, have physical and
economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their
dietary needs and food preferences for an active, and healthy life”.
Major
reasons for food insecurity recently:
1.
Trend of economic slowdown: Many developing and less developed
countries are facing economic slowdown, which resulted in poor economic growth.
● Eg. In Pakistan due to severe
economic slowdown, food insecurity had grown manifold.
2. Covid 19: Due to Covid-19, livelihoods of many people
were affected severely; job loss, poor agricultural production in Covid-19
times led to food insecurity.
● Eg. Around 150 million people were
forced into extreme food insecurity due to Covid 19.
3. Russia -
Ukraine war: The Eastern European war has disrupted the global food supply
chain and thus exaggerated the severity of the hunger.
● Eg. Russia and Ukraine account for
30% of the global wheat exports.
4. Poor
governmental policies: Some governments’ economic policies to contain the
worst effects of the Covid-19 have gone to a poor situation, which affects the
food insecurity in the region.
● Eg. Sri Lanka's overnight change to
organic farming completely vanished the agricultural system and created food
insecurity endemic.
5. Rapid
Urbanization: The rapid urbanization
may lead to the development of slums and pose a considerable threat to food
security, because the majority of urban dwellers are net food buyers and spend
a large part of their net disposable income on food spending.
How
hunger is challenging good governance in India?
1.
Large food expenditure: Higher the rate of hunger, the
Government is forced to spend more on food related expenditure.
● Eg. This year the Government
allocates 1.97lakh crore on food expenditure.
2. Social
Unrest: Persistent hunger and food insecurity can lead to social unrest and
civil disturbances. When large segments of the population are deprived of basic
necessities like food, there is an increased risk of protests, demonstrations,
and instability.
● Eg. The persistent hunger will lead
to a situation like what happened in Sri Lanka.
3. Reduced
workforce productivity: Prolonged food insecurity and persistent hunger can
reduce the productivity of the world force thus reducing the Socio and economic
development.
4. Reduced
spending on capital expenditure: Due to higher allocation of amount to the
food expenditure, the government is forced to spend little on nation
development capital infrastructure.
5. Development
of the gig economy: Due to food insecurity and hunger, many people in the
workforce are forced to do menial jobs in the unorganized economy;
● This
can lead to the development of the unorganized sector and thus intensify the
already prevailing food insecurity.
Measures
taken by government to ensure food security in India:
1.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana: The new integrated food
security system, which will provide free food grains to Antodaya Anna Yojna
(AAY) and Primary Household (PHH) recipients.
2. Buffer Stock:
Food Corporation of India (FCI) has the prime responsibility of procuring the
food grains at minimum support price (MSP) and stored in its warehouses at
different locations and from there it is supplied to the state governments in
terms of requirement.
3. States
Initiatives: Subsidized food through
Canteens (Amma Canteens in TN
and Indira canteen in Karnataka) have been widely welcomed by the urban poor.
Such programmes can be expanded across the nation.
4. National Food
Security Act: This act was enacted to ensure the legal right to food to the
citizens. Under this act subsidized food grain is given to the poor households.
● 75% of the rural population and 50%
of the urban population have been covered under the act.
5. Public
Distribution System: Over the years, Public Distribution System has become
an important part of Government’s policy for management of the food economy in
the country.
● PDS
is supplemental in nature and is not intended to make available the entire
requirement of any of the commodity.
6. One Nation
One Ration Card scheme: It is a national ration card that will enable
migrant workers and their families to access the public distribution system
(PDS) benefits from any fair price shops across the country.
7. Integrated
Child Development Services: It was started to tackle malnutrition and health problems and ensure food security in
children below 6 years of age and pregnant and nursing mothers.
8. PM Poshan:
Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN)’ for providing one hot cooked meal in Government and
Government aided Schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26.