Chapter 4: Food Security in India - NCERT Solutions
Exercises
Q1. How is food security ensured in India?
Answer - Food security in India is ensured through multiple measures:
• The government maintains a buffer stock of food grains.
• The Public Distribution System (PDS) distributes subsidised food to the poor.
• Various food security schemes target vulnerable groups.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) encourages farmers to produce enough food.
• Food processing and storage infrastructure are improved to reduce wastage.
• The government maintains a buffer stock of food grains.
• The Public Distribution System (PDS) distributes subsidised food to the poor.
• Various food security schemes target vulnerable groups.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) encourages farmers to produce enough food.
• Food processing and storage infrastructure are improved to reduce wastage.
Q2. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity?
Answer - People more prone to food insecurity include:
• The poor and daily wage labourers.
• Landless agricultural labourers.
• Migrant workers and homeless people.
• Children and pregnant or lactating women.
• People living in disaster-prone or drought-affected areas.
• The poor and daily wage labourers.
• Landless agricultural labourers.
• Migrant workers and homeless people.
• Children and pregnant or lactating women.
• People living in disaster-prone or drought-affected areas.
Q3. Which states are more food insecure in India?
Answer - The states more food insecure in India are:
• Bihar
• Odisha
• Jharkhand
• Madhya Pradesh
• Chhattisgarh
These states face frequent droughts, poor infrastructure, and higher poverty rates.
• Bihar
• Odisha
• Jharkhand
• Madhya Pradesh
• Chhattisgarh
These states face frequent droughts, poor infrastructure, and higher poverty rates.
Q4. Do you believe that green revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How?
Answer - The Green Revolution helped India become self-sufficient in food grains by:
• Introducing high-yielding variety seeds.
• Promoting use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation.
• Increasing wheat and rice production significantly.
• Reducing dependence on food imports.
However, it was limited to some regions and crops.
• Introducing high-yielding variety seeds.
• Promoting use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation.
• Increasing wheat and rice production significantly.
• Reducing dependence on food imports.
However, it was limited to some regions and crops.
Q5. A section of people in India are still without food. Explain?
Answer - Despite food production, some people remain without food due to:
• Poverty and lack of purchasing power.
• Unequal distribution of food.
• Poor access to markets and ration shops.
• Social inequalities and exclusion.
• Natural disasters disrupting supply.
• Poverty and lack of purchasing power.
• Unequal distribution of food.
• Poor access to markets and ration shops.
• Social inequalities and exclusion.
• Natural disasters disrupting supply.
Q6. What happens to the supply of food when there is a disaster or a calamity?
Answer - During disasters or calamities:
• Food supply decreases due to crop damage.
• Prices of food grains may rise sharply.
• Distribution systems may get disrupted.
• The government often releases buffer stock to stabilise supply.
• Emergency relief food is provided to affected populations.
• Food supply decreases due to crop damage.
• Prices of food grains may rise sharply.
• Distribution systems may get disrupted.
• The government often releases buffer stock to stabilise supply.
• Emergency relief food is provided to affected populations.
Q7. Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger?
Answer -
| Seasonal Hunger | Chronic Hunger | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Occurs at certain times of the year, often before harvest | Persistent and long-term hunger throughout the year |
| Cause | Lack of food due to seasonal unemployment or crop cycles | Extreme poverty and continuous food shortage |
| Effect | Temporary malnutrition and distress | Severe malnutrition, stunted growth, and health issues |
Q8. What has our government done to provide food security to the poor? Discuss any two schemes launched by the government?
Answer - The government launched several schemes to provide food security. Two important schemes are:
• Public Distribution System (PDS): Supplies subsidised food grains through fair price shops to poor families.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: Provides legal entitlement to subsidised food grains for about two-thirds of India's population.
• Public Distribution System (PDS): Supplies subsidised food grains through fair price shops to poor families.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: Provides legal entitlement to subsidised food grains for about two-thirds of India's population.
Q9. Why buffer stock is created by the government?
Answer - The government creates buffer stock to:
• Ensure availability of food grains during shortages.
• Stabilise prices and prevent price rise.
• Meet emergency needs during disasters.
• Support the Public Distribution System.
• Maintain food security for the country.
• Ensure availability of food grains during shortages.
• Stabilise prices and prevent price rise.
• Meet emergency needs during disasters.
• Support the Public Distribution System.
• Maintain food security for the country.
Q10. Write notes on:
(a) Minimum support price
(b) Buffer stock
(c) Issue price
(d) Fair price shops
(a) Minimum support price
(b) Buffer stock
(c) Issue price
(d) Fair price shops
Answer - (a) Minimum Support Price (MSP): The price set by the government to buy crops from farmers, ensuring they get a fair income.
(b) Buffer Stock: Food grains stored by the government to manage supply and demand.
(c) Issue Price: The price at which food grains are sold to consumers through ration shops, usually subsidised.
(d) Fair Price Shops: Government-run shops distributing food grains at subsidised prices to eligible families.
(b) Buffer Stock: Food grains stored by the government to manage supply and demand.
(c) Issue Price: The price at which food grains are sold to consumers through ration shops, usually subsidised.
(d) Fair Price Shops: Government-run shops distributing food grains at subsidised prices to eligible families.
Q11. What are the problems of the functioning of ration shops?
Answer - Problems of ration shops include:
• Irregular supply of food grains.
• Corruption and diversion of grains to the black market.
• Poor quality of food grains.
• Exclusion of deserving families.
• Lack of transparency and accountability.
• Irregular supply of food grains.
• Corruption and diversion of grains to the black market.
• Poor quality of food grains.
• Exclusion of deserving families.
• Lack of transparency and accountability.
Q12. Write a note on the role of cooperatives in providing food and related items.
Answer - Cooperatives play a significant role by:
• Ensuring fair prices to farmers and consumers.
• Reducing middlemen and exploitation.
• Improving storage and distribution facilities.
• Helping in procurement of inputs like seeds and fertilizers.
• Supporting small farmers to access markets effectively.
• Ensuring fair prices to farmers and consumers.
• Reducing middlemen and exploitation.
• Improving storage and distribution facilities.
• Helping in procurement of inputs like seeds and fertilizers.
• Supporting small farmers to access markets effectively.