Question 1 · 10 marks · 181 words written
Opening · a definition
Food security refers to the availability, accessibility & affordability of quality foods for all within a country.
Body · points
Different dimensions →
(i) Food availability → Ensuring availability through proper storage & supply chain with agricultural self-reliance.
(ii) Food Accessibility → To access food irrespective of social barrier like caste, class, religion, gender etc
(iii) Food affordability → To reduce cost of food, prevent inflation
India's status on ensuring food security
(i) Availability : India is a net exporter of food with surplus production of rice, wheat.
(ii) Accessibility → India's Public Distribution System with National Food Security Act 2013 ensures accessibility with 67% population under coverage. → Also one nation, one ration card and chain of fair price shops ensure this.
(iii) Affordability → Food subsidies ensure affordability for major crops. → However, seasonal fluctuation creates issue eg Recent tomato price rise → Dependence on pulses & oilseeds import make it vulnerable to global price shocks.
Close · a way forward
To tackle these issue in affordability aspect, Government has initiated operation greens – storage program as well crop diversification to address overall food security in India.