International Research Journal , September 2010 ISSN- 0975-3486 RNI: RAJBIL 2009/30097 VOL I * ISSUE 12

Research Paper -- Commerce - Management

FOOD SECURITY MANAGEMENT

A STRATEGIC ISSUE ’

September, 2010 * Dr. Shriprabhu G. Chapke

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* *Principal
Assicate Smt.
Prof.Laxmibai
Comm.Dept. Sant Gadge
Radhakisan MaharajCollege
Toshniwal Mahavidyalaya, Walgaom.
of Commerce, Akola
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Introduction: consequent negative impact on the health and well-
Food security management is the concept of ‘food being of the rural population.
security which includes both physical and economic Issue of Food Security Management :
access to food that meets people’s dietary needs as well India at present finds itself in the midst of a paradoxical
as their food preferences. situation; endemic mass hunger coexisting with the
Concept of Food Security: mounting food grain stock. The food grain stocks
The World Food Summit -1996 defined Food Security available with the FCI stand at an all-time high of 62
as: “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, million tons against an annual requirement of around 20
safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active million tons for ensuring food security. Still an estimated
life.” Food security involves every individual gaining 200 million people are underfed and 50 million on the
physical, economic, social and environmental access brink of starvation, resulting in starvation death. India’s
to a balanced diet that includes the necessary macro food security policy has a laudable objective to ensure
and micro nutrients, safe drinking water, sanitation, availability of food grains to the common people at an
environmental hygiene, primary health care and affordable price and it has enabled the poor to have
education so as to lead a healthy and protective life. It access to food where none existed. The policy has
is a nutrition security.“Nutrition security involves focused essentially on growth in agriculture production
physical, economic and social access to balanced diet, (once India used to import food grains) and on support
clean drinking water, sanitation and primary health care price for procurement and maintenance of rice and wheat
for every child, woman and man. It is fundamental duty stocks. The responsibility for procuring and stocking
to give all our citizens an opportunity for a healthy and of food grains lies with the FCI and for distribution with
productive life,” said Professor MS Swaminathan, the public distribution system (PDS).
Chairman, MSSRF. Prerequisite of Food Security Management :
Present Scenario of Food Security Management : The foundation of the food security based on three
Food Corporation of India has established Institute of elements: 1 Food availability: Sufficient quantities of
food security in 1971. FCI is maintaining satisfactory food available on a consistent basis. 2 Food access:
level of operational and buffer stock of food grains to Having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods
ensure National Food Security. National Food security for a nutritious diet. 3 Food use: Appropriate use based
Mission, State Food Security Mission Executive on knowledge of basic nutrition and care as well as
Committee, District Food Security Mission Executive adequate water and sanitation. It is worth to have detailed
Committee etc. are playing role in food security knowledge of the Food Corporation Act 1964, as its
management. On the composite index of food insecurity basis for a wide spared food security management.
of rural India, states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh Corporation Act 1964 are :1 Effective price support
are found in the ‘very high’ level of food insecurity, operations for safeguarding the interests for the farmers.
followed by Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. The 2 Distribution of food grains through out the country
better performers include Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, for public distribution system and 3 Maintaining
Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Andhra Pradesh, satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of
Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Orissa and food grains to ensure National Food Security. It is not
Maharashtra perform poorly. Even economically enough to have a good strategy for food security
developed states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra management but also necessary the supportive national
Pradesh and Karnataka find themselves in the category policy for food security. The national policy of food
of high food insecurity - a reflection perhaps of the security can desire with the enough food that :1 is
manifestation of the agrarian crisis in the states and its affordable, safe and healthy 2 is culturally acceptable
24 fjlpZ ,ukfyfll ,.M boSY ;q,’ku
International Research Journal , September 2010 ISSN- 0975-3486 RNI: RAJBIL 2009/30097 VOL I * ISSUE 12
3 meets specific dietary needs 4 is obtained in a dignified are self-targeting.
manner 5 is produced in way that are environmentally Other measures : 1. To start with, all restrictions on
sound and socially just In the drastic economic food grains regarding inter-State movement, stocking,
changing situation through-out the globes, in many exports and institutional credit and trade financing
countries have failed to improve the food security. should be renounced. Free trade will help make-up the
Variable of Better Food Security Management : difference between production and consumption needs,
The elements of food safety management system are reduce supply variability, increase efficiency in
summarized as under : 1 Food safety policy 2 Prerequisite resource-use and permit production in regions more
programmes 3 Hazard analysis critical control points 4 suited to it. 2. The State government will in turn distribute
Environmental monitoring 5Finished product analysis the grants to the village bodies, which can decide on the
6 Tariff control 7 Preventive maintenance 8 Food allergen list of essential infrastructure, work the village needs
Measure to improve Food Security Management: and allow every needy villager to contribute through
1 Enhancing agriculture productivity: The government, his labour and get paid in food coupons and cash.3.
through investments in vital agriculture infrastructure, Enhancing agricultural productivity and serious affords
credit linkages and encouraging the use of latest for another ‘Green Revolution’ based on best use of
techniques, motivate each district to achieve local self- information technology at various level and with various
sufficiency in food grain production. However, instead dimension. 4. The present system marked by input
of concentrating only on rice or wheat, the food crop subsidies and high MSP should be phased out. To
with a potential in the area must be encouraged. 2 avoid wide fluctuations in prices and prevent distress
Community grain storage banks: The FCI can be selling by small farmers, futures market can be
gradually dismantled and procurement decentralized encouraged. Improved communication systems through
through the creation of food grain banks in each block/ the use of information technology may help farmers get
village of the district, from which people may get a better deal for their produce. Crop insurance schemes
subsidized food grains against food coupons.The grain can be promoted with government meeting a major part
storage facilities can be created within couple of years of the insurance premium to protect the farmers against
under the existing rural development schemes and the natural calamities. Formation of special programme for
initial lot of grains can come from the existing FCI stocks. food security by using information technology. 5.
2 Better Food Management : The community can be Adoption of Food-for-education programme. To achieve
authorized to manage the food banks. This decentralized cent per cent literacy, the food security need can be
management will improve the delivery of entitlements, productively linked to increased enrolment in schools.
reduce handling and transport costs and eliminate With the phasing out of PDS, food coupons may be
corruption, thereby bringing down the issue price issued to poor people depending on their entitlement.
substantially. To enforce efficiency in grain banks 6. Modified food-for-work scheme or direct subsidies
operation, people can also be given an option to obtain should be implemented . With rationalization of input
food grains against food coupons from the open market, subsidies and MSP, the Central Government will be left
if the rates in the grain banks are higher, quality is poor with sufficient funds, which may be given as grants to
or services are deficient. A fund can be set up to reimburse each State depending on the number of poor. 7. Proper
the food retailers for the presented coupons. This implementation of Food Policy with immediate control
competition will lead to constant improvement and lower and feedback policies.
prices. It must also be mandatory to maintain a small Conclusion : -On the background of above facts and
buffer stock at the State level, to deal with exigencies. figure, one has to accept the fact declared in the World
There should be adequate facility for distribution of Food Summit at Rome Declaration (1996) that ‘food
food. There is a need to shift from the existing expensive, security is achieved when all people, at all times, have
inefficient and corruption ridden institutional physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and
arrangements to those that will ensure cheap delivery nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food
of requisite quality grains in a transparent manner and preferences for an active life’.
1. Report Planning Commission- 9 th Five Year Plan- Govt. of India 2. Report
R E F E R E N C E Planning Commission- 10th Five Year Plan- Govt. of India 3.R. K. Govil Krishi
Arthshastra – 4. Frane F. R. India’s Green Revolution – Economic Gains and
Political Cost- 5. Printice –Hall- Heady, Earlyo. Economics of Agriculture Production and Resources Use- 6. S. Chand, Sundaram
K.P. Indian Economy 7. Indurwade S.H. (2005) What makes the farmers to suicides 8. Sindhu B.S. Land Reforms, Welfare and
Economic Growth 9. Economic Survey 2007-2008 Central Government 10. India development Report 2008 Indira Gandhi
Institutes of Development Research 11. Hindusthan Times, New Delhi 20,May 2006 12. Mahore R.Y.(2005) Farmers distress
and Suicides of farmers in India with reference to Vidarbha 13. Sainath P(2005) Vidarbha: Whose suicidesis it Anyway?
25 RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION