Role of Agricultural Policies in responding to Food Security in

India -By Group 2

Abhishek TomerSiddhant Deshmukh

Shalini VermaShanoo Singh

Sudip MitraSuresh Hipparagi

Food Security

Food security is achieved when ‘all people at all times have physical and economic access to food that is sufficient to meet dietary needs for a healthy and productive life.

Introduction

In the last two decades, agriculture-related growth has been much slower than growth in non-agricultural sectors (widening income inequality between rural and urban areas)

Agriculture-related growth has also been uneven across regions

India is the world’s second most populous country. About one-quarter of the world’s total food insecure people live in India

Subsidies and food distribution programmes may increase production and consumption, but they absorb a large share of national finances that could alternatively be spent on essential public goods and services, such as health & education

A key challenge for India is to make its agricultural sector more productive and more sustainable

Agricultural Policy For almost 60 years, India’s agricultural policy has been

guided by Five-Year Plans, the latest of which is the 12th (2012-17)

The Plan’s broad vision is “Faster, Sustainable, and More Inclusive Growth”, leading to broad-based improvement in the economic and social conditions of people

As per the Plan, the higher GDP growth of 8.2% assumed envisages 4% growth in the agriculture and allied sectors

Some of the key priorities are to improve the economic viability of farming ,to encourage diversification, increase investments, reduce environmental degradation, and enhance food security by further production diversification

Importantly the 12th Five-Year Plan continued the important National Food Security Mission (NFSM), which have had a large impact on the agricultural sector.

Food policyA similar direction is promoted by the food policy

which is very closely linked to the agricultural policy.Food commodities are procured by the Food

Corporation of India (FCI) and other para-state institutions.

The Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) sets Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 25 commodities and Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) for one.

A buffer stock is maintained in order to meet shortage as well as control price.

Subsidised food is supplied to poor through Public Distribution System (PDS).

‘National Food Security Mission’

The National Development Council in 2007 launched a Food Security Mission to increase the production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12)

'National Food Security Mission' (NFSM), was launched in October 2007. The Mission is being continued during 12th Five Year Plan with new targets of additional production of food grains comprising of :

10 million tons rice 8 million tons of wheat 4 million tons of pulses 3 million tons of coarse cereals by the end of 12th Five

Year Plan. 

National Food Security Act, 2013

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (also Right to Food Act) aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of India's population

It was signed into law on 12 September 2013

Following food security programmes were implemented under NFSA

- Midday Meal Scheme - Integrated Child Development Services scheme - Public Distribution System - NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity entitlements.

What are the top agricultural issues India should focus on to meet its food security needs?

The top issue by far for Indian agriculture is increasing productivity.

Another key issue for productivity enhancement is the development of high-value commodity supply chains.

The impact of climate change on smallholder agriculture and the high risk that farmers face in the event of droughts and floods.

What should policymakers do? Price support and input subsidies and

toward investments that support the productivity

Long-term competitiveness Staple food more affordable.

Invest in agriculture innovation systems, including technology transfer and farm extension services,

Invest in education, health, sanitation, and other public services that would contribute to improved food and nutrition security.

Thank you ☺