Question

"while the total supply food in the world grew rapidly during the last part of the 19th century many people lost food security".citing example from modern Indian history evaluate the statement.

Answer 1

World Food Programme or WFP defines food security as a condition when all the people are free from hunger at all times.

According to FAO or Food and Agriculture Organization there is food security when at all times, all the people have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary requirements and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

The four dimensions of food security are:

i. Availability of food - Sufficient amount of food should be available.

ii. Access to food - People should have physical, economic and social access to food.

iii. Food utilization - The food should be safe and nutritious. It should meet the dietary needs of the people.

iv. Stability - Food should be available at all times on a permanent basis, not just for a day or a season.

While the total supply of food in the world grew rapidly during the last part of the 19th century many people lost food security in India. It was mainly due to drought, war and the economic policy.

India was hit by the worst drought in the 19th century. 2,50,000 to 3.25 million people were killed due to it. Famines took place frequently in colonial India. Large number of people died due to starvation in Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Bengal.

For example the Bengal famine occurred in 1942 - 1943 due to:

1. The rice crop was damaged due to tidal waves and a disease caused by the fungus Helminthosporium oryzae.

2. Hoarding by the rich.

3. Failure of the government to ensure equitable distribution of the available food grains.

4. Indifference of the British government to the sufferings of the people in undivided Bengal.

5. Japanese occupation of Burma.

6. Disruption of communication because of World War II.

Answer 2

One of the major rising issue of the modern world is the food security.Although after the green revolution total supply of of increases by many times in the previous century but still there are issues also rising regarding food security. There is enough food in the world that can satisfy everyone now .
But, the conditions like bad economic condition makes the people unable to access the food . The reasons due to which food security is rising also include drought and inflation. This is why we have seen this issue in the last century in the form of Bengal famine.
There is still more than 300 million people in india who are consider as poor. Such people major problem is lack of money which don't let them to access the food . Inflation is the point which happens due to bad economic policies of the country. So there is need  to take serious steps to overcome the food security issues.