FOOD SECURITY
We have moved from the
scarcity conditions at the time of the country’s independence to the present
situation of being able to feed almost 1.2 billion mouths through green
revolution, food storage facility, distribution system and changing food
habits. However a combination of bad planning, wastage in storage, slow
reaction to the consumer end shortage, low productivity, impact of unusual
weather conditions and above all hoarding and corrupt practices in the chain
from the farmer to the consumer creates shortages and wide variation in prices.
Balancing of export and import also results in allowing or barring export of
food articles.
The difficult task of
balancing between good return to the farmer and reasonable price to the
consumers (who are more vocal and influential) and the impact of the actions of
corrupt stack holders in the chain has been the single most important factor
for price variations. Corrupt practices are not punished in an exemplary way
and are allowed to drag on for years while the culprit continues to enjoy the
fruits of his crimes. There is a long chain of supervision maintained at high
cost that does not justify its existence by its productive actions. Maximum on
line facilities is the only way out.
Infrastructural
development is more oriented for the affluent or middle class. The basic water,
electricity and seeds/fertilizer facilities at village level are not
efficiently handled. The subsidies should be directly given for increasing
productivity. Information decimation is poor and delayed in spite of many
technological facilities now available. Food security is not so much about distributing cheap
food to the needy but about proper all round approach to avoid pitfalls given
above.
