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How is food security ensured in India? - Economics
How is food security ensured in India?
Food security in India is ensured through a carefully designed system by the government, which consists of two main components: Buffer Stock and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The following points explain how it is ensured:
Buffer Stock: The government, through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), purchases wheat and rice from farmers in states where there is surplus production. This stock is maintained to distribute food in food-deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at lower prices.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): Farmers are paid a pre-announced price for their crops, called the MSP. This provides an incentive to farmers to increase food production, ensuring availability.
Public Distribution System (PDS): The food procured by the FCI is distributed through a network of Fair Price Shops (Ration Shops). This ensures that essential food grains are accessible to the poor at highly subsidized rates.
Three Dimensions of Food Security:
Availability: Food production within the country, food imports, and the stock stored in government granaries.
Accessibility: Food is within reach of every person without any social or physical barriers.
Affordability: Individuals have enough money to buy sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: This law provides legal backing to the food security system, ensuring that 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population receive subsidized food grains.
Targeted Schemes: Special schemes like Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) for the poorest of the poor and Annapurna Scheme for indigent senior citizens are implemented to provide extra support to the most vulnerable.