Chaitanya AwasthiAIR 37 · CSE 2022 · 287 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a quotation
"There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread". - Mahatma Gandhi
In a country with overflooded food grains godowns, it is ironical that it features at the lower end of Global Hunger Index, Food Wastage Index etc. India has come a long way from its 'ship to mouth' state to self sufficiency. However with 30%+ children malnourished and 50%+ women anaemic, it raises questions about India's food management system.
Body · points
Food Security Framework
To ensure physical, social and economic food security, Government maintain buffer stocks.
Need of Buffer Stocks
(1) Financial Security of Farmers → MSP procurement by FCI prevents distress sale (2) Food security → Buffer stocks ensure continuous availability at PDS outlets under NFSA, 2013 → 5kg/person/month and for Antyodaya Anna Yojana - 35kg/Household/month → Subsidised grains at ₹3/2/1 per kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains → covers 75% rural and 50% urban population (3) Price Stability & Essential Commodities → Insulate consumers from hoarding and other market distorting activities → Insulate from global price fluctuations.
Issues with Buffer Stock
(1) Logistics and Storage Cost → add to Subsidy burden (2) Wastage → Open, outdoor, unhygienic storage leads to rotten and spoilt grains
(3) Warehousing Issues → Shortage causes trouble in adequate storage (4) Leakage → Corruption diverts stocks - Ghost Beneficiaries etc (5) WTO Issue → Allegations of trade distortion
Liquidation Policy → An active liquidation policy serves several benefits: (1) Additional Revenue (2) Reduce wastage - Demand Driven (3) Maintain prices through supply demand management (4) Increase Exports
Close · a source
Food Management plays a pivotal role in India's quest for global leadership. The Government should heed to Shanta Kumar Committee's recommendations on Buffer Stock Management reforms.