Food Security in Odisha
Goal:
- To guarantee food and nutritional security from a human life cycle perspective
- ensuring that people have access to enough high-quality food in reasonable quantities so they can live honourably.
- Coverage: The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) provides subsidised foodgrains to up to 50% of the urban population and 75% of the rural population.
- Qualifications:
- In accordance with State government rules, Priority Households will be covered under TPDS.
- households that are part in the current Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
Provisions:
- 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, calculated at 3/2/1 kg for coarse grains, wheat, and rice.
- 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month will still be provided to the current AAY household.
- Meals and maternity benefits for expectant mothers and nursing moms for the first six months after the baby is born, with a minimum of 6,000 provided.
- meals for kids up to the age of 14.
- Beneficiaries receive a food security allowance if they are not provided with the required meals or grains.
- establishing district and state grievance redressal procedures.
Current problems:
- It is predicted that there will be 560 disasters annually, or 1.5 each day;
- Malnutrition and hunger are predicted to increase by 20%.
- If the effects of climate change are not addressed
- Global warming is predicted to cause a 21% decrease in food productivity.
The Odisha case:
- It is suggested to use Odisha’s transformative journey as a model and a source of inspiration for establishing equitable and sustainable food security.
Odisha’s agricultural transformation:
- Unlike in the pre-2000s, when Odisha had to import rice from neighbouring States to make ends meet,
- Producing 13.6 million tonnes of food grains in 2022—its biggest output ever—
- Despite a steady crop area, productivity has grown among the majority of small and marginal farmers.
- In the past 20 years, the average output of rice, the state of Odisha’s principal crop, has tripled.
- The yield averaged 10.41 quintals per hectare in 2000–01; by 2020–21, it had risen to 27.30 quintals per hectare.
- Once dubbed the “land of hunger,” the Kalahandi district is now referred to as Odisha’s rice bowl.
- At the offices of the United Nations World Food Programme: Odisha’s pledge to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 of “Zero Hunger.”
- Increasing the income of small and marginal farmers is the main goal.
- It has made a direct impact on enhancing their food security and building robust livelihoods.
- Putting into practice key programmes like Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation.
- Spreading knowledge of scientific crop management techniques via traditional and digital extension
- Paddy cultivation has declined while non-paddy crop farming has grown.
- The Odisha Millet Mission has contributed to agricultural diversification and climate resilience.
Problems:
- Odisha’s physical characteristics and geographic location make it especially susceptible to the effects of climate change.
- It may interfere with present growth plans and make poverty worse.
- It could result in the loss of infrastructure, assets, livelihoods, and lives.
The all-inclusive Odisha Climate Change Action Plan:
- This plan addresses a number of topics, such as energy, agriculture, forests, health, industries, mining, transportation, urban and water resources, energy, fisheries and animal resources, and forests and forests.
- It was developed by a group of specialists from several departments and includes suggestions from the community.
- The plan’s actions are to be carried out by a number of departments and entities.
- Those are under the supervision of the Chief Secretary’s committee.
- From the bottom up, a strategy for achieving climate resilience is being established.
- The agricultural Weather Watch Group monitors the agricultural programme through weekly meetings, officer field trips, and video conferencing.
- It assists the government in taking the appropriate action during unfavourable meteorological events, which occur frequently in the State, such cyclones, floods, and droughts.
Farmers are implementing climate-resilient farming techniques, such as:
- Farming that is integrated
- Natural farming with zero input
- crops other than paddy
- Improved water resource management
- Water-saving appliances
- e-pest monitoring
- extensive agricultural mechanisation using tools that minimise manual labour and are friendly to women.
- Production of food grains has increased as a result of farmer training in crop-specific methods, such as integrated nutrient and pest management.
The government’s actions to ensure food security:
- the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, an initiative to support organic farming
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (which emphasises increased water efficiency by growing more crops per drop)
- Under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, Soil Health Management (which supports Integrated Nutrient Management)
- The PMGKY stands for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
- PM POSHAN Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana
- Rations for take-home
- Child Development Services Integrated (ICDS)
- digitization as well as initiatives for improved health, sanitation, and rice fortification.
Way Ahead:
- Due to the agricultural sector’s continuous improvement, Odisha is now a surplus state for paddy output.
- It is the Food Corporation of India’s fourth-largest contributor to the paddy pool.
- Based on data available for 2020–21, Odisha contributes 22% of India’s total food grain production and produces 9% of the nation’s rice.
- The United Nations World Food Programme and the Government of Odisha have partnered to create innovative pilot programmes aimed at enhancing food and nutrition security. Some of these initiatives include:
- The Targeted Public Distribution System’s use of biometric technology:
Fortification of rice:
- The Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, has released the State Ranking Index for the National Food Security Act for 2022.
- The State with the highest ranking in the nation was Odisha.
- The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Odisha work together on projects related to food security, livelihood, and climate resilience.
