Question

What are the two components of the food security system in India?

Answer 1

Hint: Food is as vital for living as air is for breathing. But food security refers to making sure that the accessibility of food is within reach of every person.

Complete Answer:
(i) Buffer Stock is the stock of food grains. The FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers where there is additional production. The farmers are paid for their crops. This price is called Minimum Support Price (MSP). The purchased food grains are stored in granaries. This is done to distribute foodgrains in the areas where there is scarcity of food. This also enables to untangle the crisis of shortage of food during unfavorable weather conditions or during calamity.

(ii) The food obtained by the FCI is allotted through government governed supply shops among the poorer section of the nation. This is called the Public Distribution System (PDS). Currently, there are about 5.5 lakh ration shops all over the country. They are also known as Fair Price Shops. Here, the items are sold to people at a price lower than the market price.

Note: In Maharashtra, Academy of Development Science (ADS) has expanded a system of NGOs for arranging grain banks in different areas. Out of all fair price shops running in Tamil Nadu, 94 per cent of them are being run by the cooperatives. In Delhi, Mother Dairy is delivering milk and vegetables to the customers at regulated rate. Amul from Gujarat has given rise to the White Revolution in the country.