Q.14. “Despite various measures to address food security, major challenges remain.” Explain with reference to India.

Despite India’s significant progress in agriculture and food production, the country still faces major challenges in achieving food security. These challenges are multifaceted and include:

1. Population Growth: India’s rapidly growing population puts constant pressure on the food supply system, making it difficult to ensure food security for all citizens.

2. Poverty: A large section of the population lives below the poverty line, which limits their purchasing power and access to nutritious food.

3. Climatic Changes: Extreme weather events like floods and droughts, exacerbated by climate change, have a detrimental impact on agricultural productivity and food availability.

4. Inadequate Food Distribution: The Public Distribution System (PDS), though extensive, often fails to deliver food efficiently to the needy due to issues like leakage, corruption, and poor management.

5. Unmonitored Nutritional Programs: Nutritional programs are not always effectively monitored, leading to gaps in reaching the target populations and ensuring nutritional security.

6. Land Ownership Patterns: Unequal land distribution and land ownership issues can limit small-scale farmers’ access to resources, affecting their ability to produce food.

7. Food Wastage: Significant amounts of food are lost or wasted due to inadequate storage and transportation facilities, as well as inefficiencies in the supply chain.

8. Malnutrition: Even when food is available, it may lack the necessary nutrients, leading to widespread malnutrition, particularly among women and children.

To overcome these challenges, India needs to implement comprehensive strategies that include improving agricultural productivity, enhancing the efficiency of food distribution systems, addressing climate change impacts, and ensuring that nutritional programs are effectively monitored and reach their intended beneficiaries. Additionally, reducing food wastage and improving land use policies can contribute to better food security in the country.