Question

X. How is food security ensured in India?
​

Answer 1

Answer:

Food security is ensured in India on the basis of the two components, i.e., Buffer Stock and Public Distribution System (PDS). Buffer Stock. It is the stock of food grains like wheat and rice procured by the government through Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Answer 2

Answer:

Food security is ensured in a country when the three dimensions of food security are taken care of.

The three dimensions are:

• Availability of food − Presence of enough food for all the persons

• Accessibility of food − Absence of barrier on access to food
• Affordability of food − Capability of all persons to buy food of acceptable quality

Food security has been ensured in India because of the following factors.

1. Self-sufficiency of food grains − India has become self-sufficient in food grains (as was its aim since Independence) during the last thirty years. This has been because of a variety of crops grown all over the country.
2. Food-security system − The availability of food grains has been ensured by the government with the help of a carefully designed food-security system. This system involves the maintenance of a buffer stock of food grains, and the distribution of this food among the poorer sections of the society with the help of a public distribution system.
3. Implementation of several poverty-alleviation programmes having an explicit food security component − Apart from the distribution of food through fair-price shops, the government has come up with several poverty-alleviation programmes that enhance food security; for example, mid-day meals and food-for-work.