Food Security In India class 9 Economics MCQ & SAQ

Food Security In India class 9 Economics NCERT SOLUTION:

1. How is food security ensured in India?

Answer

Food security is ensured in a country when the three dimensions of food security are taken care of. The three dimensions are:

Availability Of food - Presence of enough food for all the persons

Accessibility Of food - Absence of barrier on access to food

Affordability Of food - Capability of all persons to buy food of acceptable quality

2. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity?

Answer

A large section of people suffer from food and nutrition insecurity in India. However, the worst affected groups areas follows:

→ Landless and land-poor households, traditional artisans, providers of traditional services, petty self-employed workers and destitute people including beggars (in the rural areas).

→ People employed in ill-paid occupations and casual laborers engaged in seasonal activities (in the urban areas).

→ People belonging to the backward sections of society, namely SCs, STs and OBCs

→ People belonging to economically-backward states with high incidence of poverty, tribal and remote areas and regions more prone to natural disasters.

→ People affected by natural disasters who have to migrate to other areas in search of work.

→ Large proportion of pregnant and nursing mothers, and children under the age of 5 years.

3. Which states are more food insecure in India?

Answer

The economically-backward states with high incidence of poverty are more food insecure in India. The states of Uttar Pradesh (eastern and south-eastern parts), Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra account for the largest number of food insecure people in the country.

4. Do you believe that the Green Revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How?

Answer

In the late 1960s, the Green Revolution introduced the Indian farmer to the cultivation of high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds. The HYVs (coupled with chemical fertilizers and pesticides) led to a growth in the productivity of food grains (especially wheat and rice), thereby helping India attain self-sufficiency in food grains. Since the advent of the Green Revolution, the country has avoided famine even during adverse weather conditions.

5. A section of people in India are still without food. Explain.

Answer

Despite a large increase in foodgrain production we find people without food in India. Poor people suffer from chronic hunger. They find themselves unable to buy food. Over one-fifth of the country’s population still suffers from chronic hunger.

6. What happens to the supply of food when there is a disaster or a calamity?

Answer

When there is a disaster or a calamity, the production of food grains decreases in the affected area. This in turn creates a shortage of food in the area. Due to the food shortage, the prices go up. The raised prices of food materials affect the capacity of many people to buy the same. When the calamity occurs in a very wide spread area or is stretched over a long period of time, it may cause a situation of starvation. A massive starvation can take the form of famine.

7. Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger.

Answer

Seasonal hunger is related to cycles of food growing and harvesting. This is prevalent in rural areas because of the seasonal nature of agricultural activities, and in urban areas because of the casual labor (e.g., there is less work for casual construction labor during the rainy season). This type of hunger exists when a person is unable to get work for the entire year.

Chronic hunger is a consequence of diets persistently inadequate in terms of quantity and/or quality. Poor people suffer from chronic hunger because of their very low income and in turn, inability to buy food even for survival.

8. What has our government done to provide food security to the poor? Discuss any two schemes launched by the government?

Answer

Food security is ensured in India by the Government by a carefully designed food security system. This system is composed of two components:

(a) Maintaining a Buffer Stock of food grains,

(b) Through the distribution of these food grains among the poorer sections of the society with the help of a Public Distribution System (PDS).

In addition to the above, the Government has launched several Poverty Alleviation Programmes (PAP) that comprise a component of food security. Some of these programmes are - Mid-Day Meals, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), and Food-For-Work (FFW) etc.

Two schemes launched by the government to provide food security to the poor are:

→Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): This scheme was launched in December 2000. Under this scheme one crore of the poor among the BPL families, covered by the Public Distribution System (PDS) were identified. Twenty-five kilograms of food grains were made available to each of the eligible families at a highly subsidized rate. After about two years, the quantity was enhanced from 25 kg to 35 kg. In June 2003, and August 2004, additional 50 lakh families were added to this scheme twice. In this way about 2 crore families have been brought under the AAY.

→ Food for Work (FFW): This programme was launched in November 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country. The main objective of this scheme is to intensify the generation of supplementary wage employment. This scheme is open to all rural poor who are willing to do unskilled labor. In return, the workers are supplied food grains or money as they like.

9. Why is a buffer stock created by the government?

Answer

A buffer stock of food grains is created by the government so as to distribute the procured food grains in the food-deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at a price lower than the market price. A buffer stock helps resolve the problem of shortage of food during adverse weather conditions or during periods of calamity.

10. Write notes on:

(a) Minimum support price

(b) Buffer stock

(c) Issue price

(d) Fair-price shops

Answer

(a) Minimum Support Price (MSP) - This is the pre-announced price at which the government purchases foodgrains particularly, wheat and rice from the farmer in order to create a buffer stock. This price is announced by the government every year before the sowing season to give incentive to the farmers to raise the production of the desired crop. The rising MSPs have raised the maintenance cost of procuring food grains by the government as well as induced farmers to divert land from production of coarse grains to the production of these crops.

(b) Buffer Stock - It is the stock of food grains particularly, wheat and rice which the government procures through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The FCI purchases these cereals directly from the farmers of those states where they are in surplus. The price of these commodities is much before the actual sowing season of these crops. The food grains thus purchased by the FCI are kept in big granaries and are called Buffer Stock. Maintaining buffer stock is a step taken by the government in order to ensure food security in the country.

(c) Issue Price - In order to help the poor strata of the society, the government provides them food grains from the buffer stock at a price much lower than the market price. This subsidized price is known as the Issue Price.

(d) Fair Price Shops - The foodgrains procured by the government through FCI are distributed to the poor section of the society through ration shops. The Ration Shops are called Fair Price Shops because food grains are supplied to the poor through these shops at much more reasonable and a fair price than the market price which is often high. Any family with a ration card can purchase a stipulated amount of food grains, sugar, kerosene etc. every month from the nearby fair price shop.

11. What are the problems of the functioning of the ration shops?

Answer

There are various problems with the functioning of ration shops such as ;

→ Ration cards are issued only to those people who have their proper residential addresses. Hence a large number of homeless poor fail to get ration from these shops.

→ The owners of these shops sell rations in the open market at higher prices.

→ Sometimes shopkeepers make bogus entries in the ration cards.

12. Write a note on the role of cooperatives in providing food and related items.

Answer

The cooperatives are playing an important role in food security in India, especially in the southern and western parts of the country. The cooperative societies set up shops to sell goods to the poor people at lower prices. For example, out of all fair price shops operating in Tamil Nadu, nearly 94 percent are run by the cooperatives. In Delhi, Mother Dairy provides milk and vegetables to the consumers at controlled prices which are decided by the Delhi Government. Amul is another example in this regard. It has brought about the White Revolution in the country. There are many more cooperatives and NGOs also working intensively towards this direction.

Food Security In India class 9 Economics MCQ

1. Annapurna Scheme (APS) was launched in April:

(a) 2000

(b) 2005

(d) 2003

► (a) 2000

2. Which of the following statements is not correct about the Public Distribution System?

(a) The PDS dealers divert the grain to open market to get a better margin

(b) They sell poor quality grains at ration shops

(d) They sell good quality grain at ration shops at a slightly higher price

► (d) They sell good quality grain at ration shops at a slightly higher price

3. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) foodgrains given per family per month are :

(a) 40 kg

(b) 35 kg

(d) 25 kg

► (b) 35 kg

4. To whom the yellow card is issued?

(a) To shopkeeper

(b) To land lord's

(d) People below the poverty line

► (d) People below the poverty line

5. Who released a special stamp entitled ‘Wheat Revolution’ in July 1968?

(a) Mahatma Gandhi

(b) Indira Gandhi

(d) Motilal Nehru

► (b) Indira Gandhi

6. The most devastating famine occurred in Bengal in:

(a) 1942

(b) 1943

(d) 2009

► (b) 1943

7. What is the alternative name for ration shops?

(a) Fair Price Shops

(b) Grain Shops

(d) None of the above

► (a) Fair Price Shops

8. Which of the following places of Jharkhand witnessed starvation death recently?

(a) Dhanbad

(b) Ranchi

(d) Puri

► (c) Palamau

9. When was the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme launched?

(a) In Jan 1999

(b) In May 2000

(d) In October 2005

► (c) In Dec 2000

10. In which state 94% ration shops are run by cooperatives

(a) Andhra Pradesh

(b) Tamil Nadu

(d) Bihar

► (b) Tamil Nadu

11. In which decades was the Rationing System introduced in India?

(a) 1940s

(b) 1950s

(d) 1970s

► (a) 1940s

12. At what price, the government purchases the food grain for making buffer stock?

(a) Minimum Support Price (MSP)

(b) Controlled price

(d) All of the above

► (a) Minimum Support Price (MSP)

13. Name the NGO which facilitated setting up of grain banks in different regions.

(a) Academy of Development Science, Maharashtra

(b) Anand Milk Union Limited

(d) None of these

► (a) Academy of Development Science, Maharashtra

14. Which of the following arguments do not support the idea that a high level of buffer stocks of food grains is very undesirable?

(a) High carrying costs.

(b) Waste of food grains.

(d) Proper and best maintenance of food grains.

► (d) Proper and best maintenance of food grains.

15. In which of the following years was the food grain stock with the FCI the maximum?

(a) 2001

(b) 2009

(d) 2000

16. The most devastating famine occurred in India in 1943 in:

(a) Assam

(b) Bengal

(d) Orissa

► (b) Bengal

17. In which of the following year did our country cross the 200 million tons per year mark in food grain production?

(a) 2013-14

(b) 2014-15

(d) 2016-17

18. Which among the following schemes was initiated for the poor in all areas?

(a) TPDS

(b) RPDS

(d) All of the above

► (a) TPDS

19. Chronic hunger refers to:

(a) Low income

(b) Inadequate quantity of food

(d) All of the above

► (d) All of the above

20. In which part of the country, grain banks have been set up by NGOs?

(a) Gujarat

(b) Haryana

(d) Maharashtra

► (d) Maharashtra

21. The price that is announced before the sowing season is called:

(a) Issue price

(b) Fair price

(d) Minimum support price

► (d) Minimum support price

22. Minimum Support Price is announced by the government to provide:

(a) incentives to farmers

(b) incentives to middlemen

(d) none of the above

► (a) incentives to farmers

23. When was the National Food Security Act passed?

(a) 2010

(b) 2011

(d) 2013

► (d) 2013

24. The main purpose of a buffer stock scheme is:

(a) to solve the problem of shortage of food

(b) to support the farmers

(d) none of the above

► (a) to solve the problem of shortage of food

25. The society which facilitated setting up of grain banks in different regions is :

(a) Amul (Gujarat)

(b) Academy of Development Science (Maharashtra)

(d) None of the above

► (b) Academy of Development Science (Maharashtra)

26. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Annapurna Scheme (APS) are linked with :

(a) public distribution system

(b) mid-day meal

(d) none of the above

► (a) public distribution system

27. Name the cooperative that provides milk and vegetables at a controlled rate decided by the Government of Delhi:

(a) Amul

(b) Kendriya Bhandar

(d) None of these

► (c) Mother Dairy

28. Which of the following is not a dimension of food security?

(a) Availability

(b) Accessibility

(d) Costly

► (d) Costly

Food Security In India class 9 Economics SAQ:

1.What are the essentials of the food security system?

Ans. Essentials of the Food Security System are the following:

1. Increasing domestic production of food to meet its growing demand

2. Food should be available in adequate quantity as well as to meet nutritional requirements

3. Food should be available at reasonable prices

4. Buffer stock of food should be maintained

2. Why is there need for self-sufficiency in food grains in India?

Ans. Need for self-sufficiency in foodgrains arises from the following:

(i) to feed the growing population

(ii) to fight against any natural calamity

(iii) to reduce import of foodgrains

(iv) to control prices of foodgrains

3. How are cooperatives helpful in food security?

Ans. Role of cooperatives in providing food security:

In many parts of India, the cooperative societies set up their own cooperatives to supply different items at cheaper rates. Following are the examples:

(i) In Tamil Nadu 94% of ration shops are run by cooperatives.

(ii)In Delhi, the Mother Dairy is supplying milk and milk products like butter, ghee etc. to the people at subsidized rates.

(iii) In Gujarat, Amul is doing the same job of supplying milk and milk products to people at much cheaper rates. It is being run by cooperatives. It has brought about the 'White Revolution' in India.

4. Why is food security essential? How is food security affected during a disaster?

Ans. Need for food security: The poorest section of the society might be food-insecure most of the time, while persons above poverty lines might also be food insecure when the country faces national disaster. Due to natural calamity, say drought, total production of foodgrain decreases. It creates a shortage of food in affected areas. Due to shortage of food, the prices go up. At higher prices, some people cannot buy food. So food security is essential.

5. State three dimensions of food security? Ans. Three dimensions of food security:

(i) Availability of food: There should be enough stocks of food items in the country through good production, through imports or previous year's stock stored in government godowns.

(ii)Accessibility of food: Food should be within the reach of everybody.

(iii) Affordability of food: The prices of different food articles should be such that every individual is able to buy them. The foodgrain items should be within the reach of the people.

6. Why has the Public Distribution System been criticized? Explain any three reasons.

Ans. (i) Market ineffectiveness of PDS : Average consumption of PDS grain at all India levels is only 1 kg per person per month. Average consumption figure in the states of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh is only 300 gms, while in states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu this figure is 3-4 kg per person per month. As a result, the poor have to depend on markets rather than ration shops.

(ii) With the introduction of three types of cards and three different prices for the same articles to different people, the whole system of Public Distribution System has become much more complicated.

(iii)PDS dealers malpractices: The ration shop dealers resort to malpractices. They divert the grains to the open market to get a better margin.

7. What is the difference between chronic and seasonal hunger? Write any two.

Ans. Chronic Hunger: When a diet is inadequate in terms of quantity or quality, it is called chronic hunger. Usually poor people suffer from chronic hunger because of their low income and as a result their inability to buy food even for their survival. This type of hunger is more or less of a permanent nature and presents throughout the year.

Seasonal Hunger: Seasonal hunger persists only during a particular period of the season. It is linked with the cycles of food growing and harvesting. In rural areas, seasonal hunger is prevalent because of the seasonal nature of agricultural activities. The gap between the sowing season and the reaping season is marked by seasonal hunger.

8. What steps have been taken by the Government of India to provide food security to the poor? Explain any three.

Ans. To provide food security to the poor the following steps have been taken by the Government of India:

(i) PDS:- Public Distribution System (PDS) was established for the distribution of food grains among poors.

(ii)ICDS:- Integrated Child Development Services were launched in 1975 to ensure nutrition among children of backward areas.

(iii) FFW:- ‘Food for work’ was introduced in 1977-78 to provide employment opportunities for poors to ensure food security for them.

9. Why is buffer stock created by the government? Give any three reasons? Ans. Buffer stock is created due to the following reasons:-

(i) To distribute food grains in deficit areas.

(ii)To distribute food grains among the poorer strata of society at prices lower than market price.

(iii) To resolve the problem of shortage of food during adverse weather conditions or during the periods of calamity.

Q.10.What are the major functions of the Food Corporation of India?

Ans. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has the following major functions:-

(i) FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers in states where there is surplus production.

(ii)They announce Minimum Support Price (MSP) on which the government buys the surplus from the farmers.

(iii) They keep the record and maintain the buffer stock.

Food Security In India class 9 Economics :

1.What are the essentials of the food security system?

Ans. Essentials of the Food Security System are the following:

1. Increasing domestic production of food to meet its growing demand

2. Food should be available in adequate quantity as well as to meet nutritional requirements

3. Food should be available at reasonable prices

4. Buffer stock of food should be maintained