NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Economics Chapter 4 Food Security in India

For students preparing for their exams, here are the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Economics Chapter 4 Food Security in India. These solutions have been curated by our subject experts at Padhaikendra to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the concepts covered in the chapter. They are designed to facilitate a smooth learning experience and can be downloaded as a PDF for easy reference. With detailed and step-by-step explanations, these solutions serve as a valuable tool for students to review the topics and practice answering the questions given in the chapter exercises.

1. How is food security ensured in India?
Ans. In order to guarantee food for all segments of society, the Indian government has devised a well-structured food security system consisting of two main components: (a) buffer stock and (b) public distribution system. Food security in India is ensured through the following approaches:

Availability of Food: The government maintains a stockpile of food grains, including the surplus from previous years, to ensure an adequate supply. This buffer stock acts as a reserve to tackle situations of scarcity or emergencies.

Accessibility of Food: The government has established a public distribution system (PDS) to ensure that food reaches every citizen across the country. Under the PDS, ration shops are set up at various locations to distribute essential food items at subsidized prices to eligible individuals.

Affordability of Food: It is crucial that individuals have the financial means to afford safe and nutritious food. The government implements various policies and programs to address affordability issues, such as setting minimum support prices for crops to ensure fair returns for farmers and implementing schemes like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, which provides free meals to school children.

By focusing on the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food, the Indian government aims to achieve food security and ensure that every individual has access to safe and nutritious food.

2. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity?
Ans. Food insecurity can affect both individuals living below the poverty line and those who are better-off but face unexpected calamities or disasters. It is not solely determined by economic status, as social composition and the inability to afford food also contribute to food insecurity. Certain marginalized groups, such as Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and certain sections of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), particularly those with limited access to land or low land productivity, are more susceptible to food insecurity. Additionally, individuals affected by natural disasters are also at risk of experiencing food insecurity.

3. Which states are more food insecure in India?
Ans. The states of Eastern and South-Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh, as well as parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, are among the states in India with the highest levels of food insecurity.

4. Do you believe that the green revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How?
Ans. After gaining independence, India implemented a new agricultural strategy that sparked the Green Revolution, primarily focusing on increasing wheat and rice production. As a result, India successfully averted famines even during challenging weather conditions. The Green Revolution enabled the cultivation of a diverse range of crops throughout the country, ensuring an abundant supply of food grains. This achievement at the national level established a robust food security system for the government. Consequently, it can be stated that the Green Revolution played a significant role in making India self-sufficient in food grain production.

5. A section of people in India are still without food. Explain?
Ans. Despite a significant increase in food grain production in India, there is still a segment of the population that lacks access to food. This situation arises due to the rising prices of commodities, which make it difficult for individuals and families to afford an adequate supply of food. In addition, chronic hunger among the poor in rural areas can be attributed to high levels of unemployment. These factors combine to create a challenging scenario where certain individuals continue to suffer from food insecurity, despite the overall growth in food production.

6. What happens to the supply of food when there is a disaster or a calamity?
Ans. Disasters and calamities have a significant impact on the production and cultivation of food grains. These events often result in decreased agricultural output, leading to a shortage of food grains and subsequent increases in their prices. In cases where a calamity persists for an extended period, the affected region may even experience food insecurity as the availability of food grains diminishes.

7. Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger?
Ans. Hunger serves as a crucial indicator of food security, closely linked to poverty. There are two dimensions of hunger: seasonal hunger and chronic hunger.

Seasonal hunger occurs when individuals are unable to find employment throughout the year. It is often associated with the cyclic nature of food cultivation and harvesting. Seasonal hunger is prevalent in rural areas due to the seasonal nature of agricultural activities and in urban areas among casual laborers.

Chronic hunger, on the other hand, stems from consistently inadequate diets in terms of both quantity and quality. Individuals afflicted by chronic hunger endure persistent food insufficiency due to their extremely low income, which renders them unable to afford an adequate food supply for basic sustenance.

8. What has our government done to provide food security to the poor? Discuss any two schemes launched by the government.
Ans. The government has implemented several welfare schemes to ensure food security for the poor. Among them are two significant initiatives: Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Annapurna Scheme (APS).

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) was introduced in 2000 with the objective of targeting the poorest families covered under the below-poverty-line category of the public distribution system. Under this scheme, one crore identified families were provided 25 kg of food grains at highly subsidized rates, with wheat priced at Rs. 2 per kg and rice at Rs. 3 per kg. In 2003, the scheme was expanded, benefiting approximately 50 lakh below-poverty-line families.

The Annapurna Scheme (APS), launched in 2000, aims to provide food support to senior citizens who are not covered by the National Old Age Pension Scheme. To be eligible for the scheme, individuals must be 65 years of age or above.

These schemes play a vital role in ensuring food security and alleviating hunger among vulnerable sections of society. They provide essential support to the poorest families and senior citizens, ensuring their access to subsidized food grains and addressing their nutritional needs.

9. Why buffer stock is created by the government?
Ans. The government establishes a buffer stock of food grains, which is utilized to distribute food in areas with food deficits and among disadvantaged communities at a price significantly below the market rate. The buffer stock serves as a solution to address food shortages during adverse weather conditions, disasters, or calamities. By maintaining a buffer stock, the government takes proactive measures to ensure food security for the population.

10. Write notes on:
(a) Minimum support price
Ans.

• Minimum Support Price is the price set by the government to ensure that farmers receive a fair and remunerative price for their agricultural produce.
• It acts as a safety net for farmers, protecting them from price fluctuations and ensuring a minimum income.
• MSP is determined by taking into account factors like production costs, market conditions, and the need to provide adequate returns to farmers.
• The government announces MSPs for various crops each year to support agricultural activities and encourage farmers to continue their production.

(b) Buffer stock
Ans.

• Buffer stock refers to the surplus stock of essential commodities, particularly food grains, held by the government to stabilize prices and ensure availability during periods of high demand or supply disruptions.
• The government procures food grains from farmers at MSP and stores them in warehouses as a buffer stock.
• Buffer stock is used to fulfill emergency requirements, supply food grains in deficit areas, and regulate prices in the market.
• It acts as a cushion against unforeseen events such as adverse weather conditions, disasters, or calamities that can disrupt the regular supply of food grains.

(c) Issue price
Ans.

• Issue price refers to the price at which food grains are sold to the beneficiaries under various government welfare schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• The issue price is generally lower than the market price, making essential food grains affordable for low-income households.
• It is determined by the government and is often subsidized to ensure access to food for vulnerable sections of society.
• The issue price may vary depending on the scheme, the type of commodity, and the targeted beneficiaries.

(d) Fair-price shops
Ans.

• Fair-price shops, also known as ration shops, are retail outlets authorized by the government to sell essential commodities at subsidized prices to eligible beneficiaries.
• These shops play a crucial role in implementing various welfare schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure food security for economically disadvantaged individuals.
• Fair-price shops are allocated specific quotas of food grains and other essential items from the government’s buffer stock to sell to the public.
• They maintain records of beneficiaries, distribute ration cards, and sell commodities at designated issue prices.
• The aim of fair-price shops is to provide affordable food grains and other essential items to those in need, especially in rural and urban areas with a higher concentration of economically weaker sections of society.

11. What are the problems of the functioning of ration shops?
Ans. Fair Price Shops, commonly known as ration shops, maintain inventory of essential commodities such as food grains, sugar, and kerosene, which are sold to the public at prices lower than the market rate. However, there are certain issues associated with the functioning of these shops:

Quality of Food Grains: The quality of food grains provided to economically disadvantaged individuals is often subpar compared to the expected standards. This compromises the nutritional value and overall satisfaction of the beneficiaries.

Malpractices and Shortchanging: Some ration shop operators engage in malpractices and dishonest practices, leading to the delivery of incomplete quantities of commodities to deserving individuals. This unethical behavior deprives the poor of their entitled share.

Irregular Opening: Some ration shops do not open regularly or maintain inconsistent operating hours, causing inconvenience and uncertainty for the poor who rely on them for their food requirements. This irregularity hampers the access and availability of essential commodities.

Incorrect Entries: In certain instances, ration shopkeepers may update incorrect or inaccurate entries in the records, particularly in the names of eligible individuals. This mismanagement and manipulation of data further marginalize the already vulnerable population.

These challenges highlight the need for effective governance, monitoring, and transparency in the functioning of ration shops to ensure that the intended benefits reach deserving individuals and alleviate their food insecurity.

12. Write a note on the role of cooperatives in providing food and related items.
Ans. Cooperatives, alongside the government, play a crucial role in ensuring food security in India, primarily in the southern and western regions of the country. These cooperative societies establish shops to sell affordable goods to economically disadvantaged individuals. Notably, a significant proportion of fair-price shops in Tamil Nadu, around 94 percent, are operated by cooperatives.

In Delhi, Mother Dairy operates under the cooperative model and provides milk and vegetables at government-controlled rates. Amul, renowned for spearheading the White Revolution in India, is another cooperative involved in the production and distribution of milk and milk products.

Furthermore, the Academy of Development Science (ADS) in Maharashtra actively contributes to food security initiatives. It facilitates the establishment of Grain Banks in various regions and conducts training and capacity-building programs for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on food security. The ADS also endeavors to influence government policies pertaining to food security.