<–2/”>a >Gujrat Food Security
Food security can be described as a phenomenon relating to individuals and can be defined by nutritional status of the individual household member that is the ultimate focus, and the risk of that adequate status not being achieved or becoming undermined.
Food Security can defined as
Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Household food security is the application of this concept to the family level, with individuals within households as the focus of concern.
Food insecurity exists when people do not have adequate physical, social or economic access to food as defined above.
Food security includes at a minimum:
- the ready availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food and
- an assured ability to acquire acceptable food in socially acceptable ways.
Food security is not guaranteed merely by adequate food grain production or even by food availability. It is more fundamentally linked to effective access to food, both physically and economically. Broadly speaking, livelihood security and livelihood access are important determinants of food access. According to observation made by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and World Food Progamme 2001, “If people have access to livelihood, they would in general have access to food and Nutrition.
Food Insecurity in Gujarat
Before the implementation of schemes providing food grains at subsidized prices, Gujarat shows high levels of food insecurity in the state. Especially in the rural areas, food insecurity was at high levels.
According to International Food Policy Research Institute reports, Gujarat has food insecurity levels from 0.621-0.776, making it a highly food insecure state.
The aim of the consultation was to suggest strategies to improve the nutrition level of Women and children in Gujarat. According to NGO Centre for Health Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA) , despite Economic Development and progress in several key health and mortality indicators, the food insecurity levels range from 0.218 to 0.89 in the country.
Gujarat shows very poor records in the food security. And the State Government is also keen on working to solve this problem, and they decided to have the consultation with grass root-level organisations, experts and government officials to overcome the problems of food insecurity. It was important that all the government departments and organisations brainstormed together.
Gujarat is on the vibrant path of Growth and development. Gujarat has provided free medical aid to the poor, despite that Gujarat was very poor in terms of food security. Gujarat has an under-nutrition rate of 47% despite the economic growth in the state.
Gujarat has prioritised an agenda to work towards reducing under-nutrition, particularly among adolescents, women and children through the Gujarat Nutrition Mission. The Swarnim Gujarat Goals for development of the state include ensuring that every pregnant woman, nursing mother and child below the age of two years receives nutrition for optimum health and development.
National Food Security Act , 2013 (NFSA)
Government has passed the National Food Security Act, 2013 with the objective to provide for food and nutritional security in human by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity. The Act provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural Population and up to 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), thus covering about two-thirds of the population. The eligible persons will be entitled to receive 5 Kgs of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains. The existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute the poorest of the poor, will continue to receive 35 Kgs of food grains per household per month.
The Act also has a special focus on the nutritional support to women and children. Besides meal to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after the child birth, such women will also be entitled to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000.
Children up to 14 years of age will be entitled to nutritious meals as per the prescribed nutritional standards.
In case of non-supply of entitled food grains or meals, the beneficiaries will receive food security allowance.
The Act also has provisions for setting up of grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels. Separate provisions have also been made in the Act for ensuring Transparency and Accountability.
Gujrat Food security
Gujarat government has implemented the much needed Food Security Act in 2016 after almost 3 years of passing the act at the centre. Gujarat government implemented the national food security programme ‘Maa Annapurna Yojna’ after a delay of almost three years, which will cover 3.82 crore people who will receive good quality wheat and rice at Rs. 2 and Rs. 3 respectively in the State.
The programme covers almost 75% of the State’s population is covered with this subsidized food scheme. Now, under the Maa Annapurna Yojna, 3.82 crore people of Gujarat will benefit. Each of them will receive rice at Rs. 3 per kg and wheat at Rs. 2 per kg.
Criteria for inclusion of various families
According to the programme, if any family felt it deserved to be included in the scheme, they could get their criteria verified from the zonal offices concerned and apply for the seal of the mamlatdar/taluka development officer in villages and of the chief officer in towns in their ration card. The list of priority families could be obtained at fair price shops, village and taluka panchayat offices as well as on the government website.
More families covered
The government is open to add more families if they are found deserving. There is also provision of providing subsidized food grain in all scarcity-hit areas in the State. So it will cover the hazard prone areas of the state.
Many poor citizens, including widows and farmers who lost their crops, are now covered under the scheme. They no longer have to worry about feeding their families.
Conclusion
The Food Security Act which is termed as a ‘game changer’ by the UPA-II Government, the State Governments need to draw their own parameters to identify the beneficiaries. The Act, which made food a legal right, got Presidential assent in September 2013, and gave one year to the States for its implementation.
Biggest challenge of the country is to feed over 1.25 billion people. Despite economic growth and self-sufficiency in food grains production, high levels of POVERTY, food insecurity and Malnutrition persist in India . The National Food Security Act (NFSA) passed in 2013 is a milestone in the history of India’s fight against hunger and malnutrition, as it claims to feed more than 800 million Indians with highly subsidized food grains. There is economy wide impact of NFSA on the Indian economy. It estimates the labor requirement, GDP growth, and indirect impact on the other sector of the economy.,
Food security is a major concern in Gujarat, India. The state is home to over 60 million people, and its economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. However, the state is facing a number of challenges that are threatening its food security, including Climate change, crop production, food distribution, Food Processing, food safety, hunger, nutrition, poverty, rural development, Sustainable Agriculture, and water Resources.
Climate Change is one of the most serious threats to food security in Gujarat. The state is already experiencing the effects of climate change, including more extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods. These events can damage crops and Livestock, and make it difficult for farmers to produce enough food.
Crop production is another major challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state is a major producer of wheat, rice, and Cotton. However, crop production is declining due to a number of factors, including climate change, pests, and diseases. This decline in crop production is making it difficult to meet the food needs of the state’s growing population.
Food distribution is also a challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state has a large number of rural areas, and many people in these areas do not have access to adequate food. This is due to a number of factors, including poverty, lack of Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE, and poor transportation.
Food processing is another challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state has a number of food processing industries, but these industries are not able to meet the demand for processed food. This is due to a number of factors, including lack of Investment, outdated technology, and poor quality control.
Food safety is also a challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state has a number of food safety problems, including contamination of food with pesticides and bacteria. These problems can cause illness and even death.
Hunger is a major problem in Gujarat. The state has a large number of people who are undernourished. This is due to a number of factors, including poverty, lack of access to food, and poor nutrition.
Nutrition is another challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state has a large number of people who are malnourished. This is due to a number of factors, including poverty, lack of access to nutritious food, and poor dietary habits.
Poverty is a major challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state has a large number of people who live in poverty. This is due to a number of factors, including Unemployment, lack of education, and poor health. Poverty can make it difficult for people to afford food, and can lead to malnutrition.
Rural development is another challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state has a large number of rural areas, and many people in these areas live in poverty. This is due to a number of factors, including lack of EMPLOYMENT opportunities, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to education and healthcare. Rural development can help to improve the lives of people in rural areas, and can make it easier for them to access food.
Sustainable agriculture is another challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state’s agricultural practices are not sustainable, and are leading to Environmental Degradation. This degradation is making it difficult to produce enough food to meet the needs of the state’s growing population. Sustainable agriculture can help to protect the Environment, and can make it easier to produce enough food to meet the needs of the state’s growing population.
Water Resources are another challenge to food security in Gujarat. The state is facing a water crisis, and this crisis is making it difficult to produce enough food. The water crisis is due to a number of factors, including climate change, Population Growth, and inefficient water use. Water conservation and water management can help to address the water crisis, and can make it easier to produce enough food.
The challenges to food security in Gujarat are complex and interrelated. There is no single solution to these challenges, and a multi-pronged approach is needed. The government of Gujarat, along with the private sector and civil Society, need to work together to address these challenges.
What is food security?
Food security is a condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
What are the causes of food insecurity?
There are many factors that can contribute to food insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, low wages, lack of access to affordable healthy food, and natural disasters.
What are the effects of food insecurity?
Food insecurity can have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities. It can lead to hunger, malnutrition, poor health, and social and economic problems.
What are the solutions to food insecurity?
There are many things that can be done to address food insecurity, including increasing access to affordable healthy food, providing food assistance programs, and supporting policies that promote food security.
What is the role of government in addressing food insecurity?
Governments play an important role in addressing food insecurity. They can provide food assistance programs, support policies that promote food security, and invest in programs that help people access affordable healthy food.
What is the role of the private sector in addressing food insecurity?
The private sector can also play an important role in addressing food insecurity. Businesses can donate food, support food banks, and invest in programs that help people access affordable healthy food.
What is the role of individuals in addressing food insecurity?
Individuals can also play an important role in addressing food insecurity. They can donate food, volunteer at food banks, and support policies that promote food security.
What is the future of food security?
The future of food security is uncertain. The world’s population is growing, and climate change is making it more difficult to produce food. However, there are many things that can be done to address food insecurity, and there is hope that we can create a world where everyone has access to enough safe and nutritious food.
Question 1
Food security is a state in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
Which of the following is not a factor that contributes to food insecurity?
(A) Poverty
(B) War
(C) Natural disasters
(D) Overpopulation
Answer
(D) Overpopulation is not a factor that contributes to food insecurity. In fact, overpopulation can actually help to improve food security by increasing the demand for food, which can lead to increased production.
Question 2
The following are some of the consequences of food insecurity:
- Hunger
- Malnutrition
- Disease
- Death
- Social unrest
- Economic instability
Which of the following is not a consequence of food insecurity?
(A) Hunger
(B) Malnutrition
(C) Disease
(D) Increased productivity
Answer (D) Increased productivity is not a consequence of food insecurity. In fact, food insecurity can actually lead to decreased productivity, as people who are hungry or malnourished are less able to work effectively.
Question 3
There are a number of things that can be done to address food insecurity. Some of these include:
- Increasing access to food
- Improving nutrition education
- Providing food assistance programs
- Investing in agriculture
- Promoting sustainable food production
Which of the following is not a way to address food insecurity?
(A) Increasing access to food
(B) Improving nutrition education
(C) Providing food assistance programs
(D) Reducing the population
Answer (D) Reducing the population is not a way to address food insecurity. In fact, reducing the population could actually make food insecurity worse, as there would be fewer people to produce food.
Question 4
The following are some of the benefits of addressing food insecurity:
- Improved health
- Increased productivity
- Reduced poverty
- Increased social cohesion
- Enhanced national security
Which of the following is not a benefit of addressing food insecurity?
(A) Improved health
(B) Increased productivity
(C) Reduced poverty
(D) Increased crime
Answer (D) Increased crime is not a benefit of addressing food insecurity. In fact, addressing food insecurity can actually help to reduce crime, as people who are not hungry or malnourished are less likely to commit crimes.
Question 5
The following are some of the challenges of addressing food insecurity:
- Cost
- Political will
- Lack of coordination
- Lack of data
- Stigma
Which of the following is not a challenge of addressing food insecurity?
(A) Cost
(B) Political will
(C) Lack of coordination
(D) Lack of food
Answer (D) Lack of food is not a challenge of addressing food insecurity. In fact, there is enough food in the world to feed everyone, but it is not always distributed equitably.