URGE FOR FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY IN INDIA
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
India consists of almost 200 million people facing malnutrition, which highlights the urgent need
for improved food security systems. Despite making notable improvements in health indicators
and ranking second worldwide in farm output, the country continues to battle widespread
undernutrition (McKay et al., 2023).The migration of people from rural to urban areas has risen
significantly from 16.5% to 21.1% in recent years. This shift places additional pressure on urban
infrastructure and food systems. Food insecurity has intensified, contributing to high rates of
malnutrition, with nearly 200 million individuals affected. Around four out of ten children in India
are unable to reach their full developmental potential due to undernutrition (Patel & Sharma,
2022).The Indian government has introduced several anti-poverty and nutrition programs.
However, many of these are not fully effective due to inadequate data and limited accessibility.
Agriculture productivity is stagnant in several areas due to constrained resources and insufficient
marketing support (Reddy, 2021).
New challenges such as climate change and land degradation are slowing down agricultural growth
and threatening food production. These environmental issues have further compounded existing
structural barriers to agricultural advancement (Kumar & Singh, 2020).Agriculture remains central
to India’s economy, contributing 18.8% to the Gross Value Added (GVA) and being the largest
employer in the country during 2021–2022. There is an increasing need to reorient agro-food
systems toward long-term sustainability and improved access to nutritious food (Deshmukh,
2022).In urban areas, food insecurity ranges between 51% and 77%. Despite this, more than 70%
of India’s population resides in rural regions, where reliable data on food insecurity is lacking or
outdated, making targeted interventions more difficult (Chatterjee & Banerjee, 2021).Even with
India’s economic growth in recent years, the country continues to struggle with extreme hunger
and undernutrition. Strengthening public food programs like the Public Distribution System (PDS)
is essential to ensure access to subsidized food grains for vulnerable populations (Joshi, 2020).
Availability of food products
Food production is the base for food security. Food security is internationally defined as a situation
that exist when all people at all times have physical social and economic access to sufficient safe
and nutritious food that needs their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy
life .The physical availability of food products within a location depends on storage and transport
infrastructure and market integration (FAO 2013 ).India is the third largest producer of cereals and
India occupies the first position in milk production and is the third largest producer of fish and
second largest producer of inland fisheries in the world and nearly 90 million people works in the
livestock sector (Agriculture plays a vital role in ensuring food security, both by producing food
for consumption and by supporting the livelihoods of approximately 36% of the global workforce.
As the global population approaches 9.5 billion, there is a growing need to meet increasing demand
for food, fiber, and fuel, while minimizing additional use of land, water, fossil fuels, and other
finite resources.(Swami Nathan M S 2009).
In 2010, agricultural land around the world spanned 4,889 million hectares—reflecting a 7%
increase since 1970. Over the same period, global grain production rose from 1.2 billion to 2.5
billion tons annually, driven by advances in technology, changes in land management, and crop
breeding improvements. Developments in technology and the expansion of global trade networks
have also made it easier and more cost-effective to distribute agricultural goods and processed food
internationally.).More than 60% of the population of India resides in agriculture and allied sectors
for their livelihood hence it is essential for overall economic growth of the country. According to
the economic survey 2012 -2013 the agriculture and allied sectors contributed 14.5% of the gross
domestic product .The livestock and fisheries sector contributed for 28.4% to the value of output
from total agriculture and allied activities in 2010-2011 (K M Singh [Link], 2021).The area of rice
harvested in India was 44.5 million ha , which accounts for 26.58 % of the world’s rice area in
2018.
Table 1: Area and production of major cereals crops in India .
Name of the crops India 2018-2019
Area (mha) Production
(mt)
Rice 43.8 116.4
Wheat 29.1 102.2
Sorghum 3.80 3.80
Bajra 6.90 8.60
Maize 9.20 27.2
Barley 0.66 1.78
Nutricereals 22.0 43
Cereals 94.9 261.6
Mostly 70 % of rural household depends on agriculture for their livelihood .Cereals contributes of
more than 90% of total food grain production in the country .(Jitendra Narayan [Link],2019 ). In
2018-198 cereals contributed 92.3%of the total food grain production. Out of 65% of the food
grain production, cereals have contributed up to 50 % of the area and the rest are pulses.23% of
the total cultivated area is rice and is utilized by 2/3rd of the population. The area contributed for
pearl millet, maize and sorghum is 5%,4%,and 4% respectively of the total cultivated area .
(Kohima Noopur [Link],2023 )
Availability of vegetables in India
India has made measurable gains in vegetable production, with per capita availability increasing
by roughly 12 kilograms over the last decade (Economic Times, 2024). This reflects improved
agricultural practices, expansion in cultivable areas, and better yields. However, a considerable
portion of the total output—estimated between 30 to 35%—is lost annually due to inefficiencies
in the supply chain, including inadequate cold storage and poor logistics (Economic Times,
2024).Environmental fluctuations further strain vegetable availability. Extreme weather events
such as unseasonal rains, droughts, and heatwaves have reduced productivity and destabilized
prices. For instance, temperature spikes during critical growth phases significantly impact yield—
a pattern well documented by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) (Economic
Times, 2024). To counteract price volatility and supply disruptions in essential crops like onions
and tomatoes, the government rolled out "Operation Greens." This scheme supports post-harvest
infrastructure and encourages value chain development through Farmer Producer Organizations
(Wikipedia, 2023).
Availability of fruits
The per capita availability of fruits in india has increased by 7kg over the past 10 decades .India is
producing around 227 kg of fruits and vegetables per person per year which exceeds the general
recommendation of 146kg per person annually.(Economic Times,2024).But the main factors
which are leading to inadequate food consumption are high prices of the produces ,low income
and social and geographical inequalities.(PMC, 2020).
Unequal access to food in India
Food insecurity is considered as a public health concern in India .(Dhamija G [Link], 2021 ).India’s
farms are producing tons of rice wheat and pulses to meet national consumption needs . Any way
according to FAO,over 224 million Indians are undernourished .This data reveals the mismatch
between production levels and access to nutritious food .(FAO,2022).There are many families in
India who cant afford the value of food produces. Research from International Food policy
Research Institute found out that low income families has to spend a large portion of their income
that is uptp 60% for food produces . (FPRI,2021)Rural areas in Jharkhand , Chhattisgarh and
Odisha reports some of the highest levels of food insecurity .The 2023 global hunger index ranked
India 111 out of 125 countries indicating high rates of under nutrition and stunting . (GHI 2023
).Environmental factors also make a risk part to the food concerns . Unpredictable rainfall, Extreme
weather disrups harvest and reduce income for farmers thus leading to the non availability of food
produces to the people .A report submitted by Indian Council of Research on International
Economic relations ICRIER, emphasize that climate variability affects food insecurity to a greater
extent (ICRIER 2022 ).Between 2019 and 2021, an estimated 16.3% of India’s population faced
undernourishment. With a population of around 1.4 billion, India ranks as the second most
populous nation in the world according to a report, South Asia records the highest rates of child
stunting and has the worst child wasting statistics globally. Notably, India’s child wasting rate
stands at 19.3%—the highest among all countries. (Al Jazeera 2022 ).Hunger and malnutrition
continue to affect a large portion of the population, and India has struggled to address these issues
effectively. Ensuring access to adequate food remains a major challenge. According to the Global
Hunger Index 2022, India was ranked 107th out of 121 countries, highlighting the seriousness of
the situation. In response to food insecurity, the Indian government enacted the National Food
Security Act in September 2013, commonly referred to as the Right to Food Act. However, food
security goes beyond just meeting a basic human requirement—it is a fundamental right. To make
real progress, the Public Distribution System must be significantly improved and strengthened. (
Bharati M Ramani , 2023 ).Agriculture plays a vital role in ensuring food security, both by
producing food for consumption and by supporting the livelihoods of approximately 36% of the
global workforce. As the global population approaches 9.5 billion, there is a growing need to meet
increasing demand for food, fiber, and fuel, while minimizing additional use of land, water, fossil
fuels, and other finite resources. In 2010, agricultural land around the world spanned 4,889 million
hectares—reflecting a 7% increase since 1970. Over the same period, global grain production rose
from 1.2 billion to 2.5 billion tons annually, driven by advances in technology, changes in land
management, and crop breeding improvements. Developments in technology and the expansion of
global trade networks have also made it easier and more cost-effective to distribute agricultural
goods and processed food internationally. ( Vandna Chhabra [Link] , 2024 ).
STABILITY IN FOOD SECURITY
Food security ensure the ability of all the people to access food at all times. ([Link],2000) .
World market stability acts as a major factor to a sustainable food security. According to them
world market stability is largely dependent upon the grain trading countries, improvement in
domestic storage and consumption to world conditions could gradually increase their contribution
to world food security[Josling [Link],1984]. Agricultural biodiversity is critical for food security .
They provides valuable ecosystems services and functions for agricultural production.
(Thrupp,2000).
Food security mainly focus on the health of all their citizens. Agriculture contributes to the
economies of rural areas both in developed and developing countries, that would help in
improving food stability, as well as food security. Overall, biosecurity measures improves animal
welfare by reducing the occurrence of diseases that affects the stability by causing fluctuations in
the availability of meat and animal-derived food products such as milk, eggs and traditional
fermented products. As an absence of biosecurity measures affects food security along with the
productive, sanitary, and environmental sustainability of the rural areas .Thus, to achieve this
objective, specific policies related to food production, such as the hygienic conditions of food
processing, packaging, shelf-life, or food labelling information is important. Population, a
household, or a person must always have access to adequate food in order to have food stability.
(Juan García-Díez [Link],2021) . The availability of adequate food should not be affected due to
sudden problems such as economic crisis, climate crisis, and other cyclical events such as seasonal
food inaccessibility. In this way, the concept of stability refers to both the availability and access
of food to the people.(Anderson, [Link],2019)
The stability of the world market constitutes a critical determinant of sustainable food security.
They contended that such stability is predominantly influenced by the policies and actions of major
grain-exporting nations. Furthermore, they suggested that enhancing the responsiveness of
domestic storage systems and consumption patterns to global market fluctuations could
substantially reinforce their role in promoting global food security . ( Josling [Link],1984 )
UTILIZATION IN FOOD SECURITY
Food security is defined as a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical and
economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and healthy life. Utilization concerns about whether individuals and
households make good use of the food to which they have access .The nutritional value of food in
term of essential micronutrient and vitamins and the ability of the body to metabolize and absorb
these nutrients is an essential factor of food security. The lack of utilization of food is measured
through the prevalence of children (under the age of five) who are moderately or severely
underweight.[Christopher B Barrett, 2010]
Utilization refers to the biological capacity to effectively use food, which is contingent upon
adequate nutrition, access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and appropriate healthcare. It
emphasizes that achieving a state of nutritional well-being—where all physiological needs are
met—requires the integration of both food and essential non-food inputs.[FAO. Trade Reforms
and Food Security, 2003]Utilization pertains to the extent to which individuals and households
effectively use the food available to them. This dimension of food security encompasses not only
access but also the nutritional quality of food—specifically its content of essential micronutrients
and vitamins—as well as the body’s capacity to metabolize and absorb these nutrients, which is
crucial to achieving adequate nutritional outcomes (Barrett, 2010).
(Townsend et al. 2001) suggest a correlation between food insecurity and obesity, highlighting the
complex relationship between inadequate access to food and adverse health outcomes.( Ivers et al,
2009) emphasize that HIV infection compromises nutrient absorption and utilization due to
weakened immune function. This often results in the malabsorption of fats and carbohydrates,
subsequently affecting the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. They further conclude that infections
can induce significant metabolic alterations including changes in insulin and glucagon levels
driven by both diminished food intake and the immune response to infection. Hall, ( Brouwer [Link],
2008) add that the effective delivery of micronutrients is critically dependent on their
bioavailability; specific food metabolites may either inhibit or enhance the absorption of minerals.
As noted by (hoddinott [Link] , 2002), households exhibiting limited dietary diversity are often
characterized by low per capita consumption and insufficient caloric intake.
Conclusion
Food security is comprised of four essential dimensions: availability, access, utilization, and
stability. These can be conceptualized as three primary pillars—availability, access, and
utilization—supported by the foundational element of stability, which ensures their sustained
effectiveness over time. To achieve sustainable food security, it is imperative to address each of
these dimensions comprehensively.(Raquel de pinho [Link] , 2021)
Each dimension is further influenced by a range of sub-components, all of which must be
systematically considered in the development of a global framework for sustainable food security.
Consequently, continued research is strongly recommended to identify additional relevant factors
and to enhance understanding of the multifaceted nature of food security. (Juan Garcia – Diez [Link]
, 2021).