Describe India's food security system. Enumerate reasons for disturbance in food demand and supply.

India's Food Security System: A Detailed Overview

India’s food security system is a multi-faceted approach comprising several key components:

• The Public Distribution System (PDS): Historically, the PDS was the primary mechanism for distributing subsidized food grains. It evolved from a universal PDS to a Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in 1997, focusing on Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The NFSA, 2013 further refined this, covering approximately 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: This Act guarantees a specified quantity of food grains at affordable prices to eligible households. It mandates allocation of 5 kg of food grains per person per month.
• Buffer Stock Management: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) maintains buffer stocks of wheat and rice to ensure price stability and availability during lean seasons and emergencies. The buffer norm is 20 million tonnes.
• Procurement: The government procures food grains, primarily rice and wheat, from farmers at Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) to incentivize production and maintain buffer stocks.
• Storage and Distribution: A network of warehouses and Fair Price Shops (FPS) facilitates storage and distribution.
• Integrated Management System (IMS): FCI utilizes IMS to track movement of food grains from procurement to distribution.

Reasons for Disturbance in Food Demand

Several factors are contributing to shifts in food demand in India:

• Changing Dietary Patterns: Increasing urbanization and rising incomes are driving a shift towards processed foods, dairy products, and meat, reducing the demand for traditional staples like rice and wheat. This is particularly evident in urban areas.
• Aging Population: An aging population often has different nutritional needs and preferences, potentially impacting overall food demand.
• Health Consciousness: Growing awareness about health and nutrition is leading to a preference for healthier food options, impacting demand for calorie-dense foods.
• Urbanization and Lifestyle Changes: Urban dwellers tend to consume more processed and convenience foods, further reducing demand for traditional grains.
• Income Levels: As incomes rise, the demand for higher-value food items increases, shifting away from subsidized grains.

Reasons for Disturbance in Food Supply

The supply side faces numerous challenges:

• Climate Change: Erratic rainfall, droughts, and floods are significantly impacting crop yields. The 2023 monsoon deficit in several states exemplified this challenge.
• Water Scarcity: Over-extraction of groundwater for irrigation is leading to water scarcity in many agricultural regions, limiting crop production.
• Land Degradation: Soil erosion, salinity, and nutrient depletion are reducing land productivity.
• Fragmented Landholdings: Small and fragmented landholdings make it difficult to adopt modern farming techniques and achieve economies of scale.
• Post-Harvest Losses: Significant losses occur during harvesting, storage, and transportation due to inadequate infrastructure and technology. Approximately 15-20% of food grains are lost post-harvest (estimates vary).
• Price Volatility: Fluctuations in global commodity prices impact domestic prices and farmer incomes, affecting production incentives.
• Lack of Infrastructure: Inadequate storage facilities, transportation networks, and cold chain infrastructure hamper efficient supply chain management.
• Farmer Distress: Low farmer incomes and rising input costs are discouraging agricultural production.

Factor	Impact on Demand	Impact on Supply
Climate Change	Indirect (affects income, prices)	Direct (reduced yields)
Urbanization	Increased demand for processed foods	Indirect (land conversion)
Water Scarcity	N/A	Reduced yields
Post-Harvest Losses	N/A	Reduced availability

Recent Initiatives and Challenges

The government has introduced several initiatives to address these challenges, including:

• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN): Provides income support to small and marginal farmers.
• Promotion of Pulses, Oilseeds, and Nutri-Cereals: To diversify cropping patterns and improve nutritional security.
• Improving Post-Harvest Infrastructure: Construction of storage facilities and cold chain infrastructure.
• Digitalization of PDS: Utilizing technology to improve efficiency and transparency in food distribution (e.g., Aadhaar linking).

Despite these efforts, challenges remain, including leakages in the PDS, inefficient procurement processes, and the need for more sustainable agricultural practices.

India's food security system, while significantly improved over the years, faces evolving challenges stemming from changing consumption patterns and climate change impacts. Maintaining a balance between ensuring access to affordable food and incentivizing agricultural production requires a multi-pronged approach. This includes promoting diversified cropping patterns, improving post-harvest infrastructure, strengthening farmer support mechanisms, and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and transparency. A focus on sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient practices is crucial for long-term food security in India.