Overview of food security in Uttar Pradesh | Course for UPPSC Preparation - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

Uttar Pradesh is a big state having tropical monsoon climate with 9 different climatic zones. This article discusses various challenges to food security in Uttar Pradesh. It is analyzed that per capita availability of cereals are 36% higher as compared to the sufficient demand, vegetables are 34 % higher as compared to the sufficient demand and fruits are 56% higher as compared to the sufficient demand which exceeds the ICMR dietary requirements whereas the per capita availability of pulses, milk do not even meet the sufficient demand and are 32%, 24% less which is well below from the ICMR dietary requirements. It is estimated that out of the total area of food grains crop, 19.8 million hectare, roughly 6.6 million hectare would be taken out of farming i.e. production loss of 14 million tons of food grains. Therefore, it is essential to develop food security strategies to avoid hunger and mal nutrition in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Keywords: Food, security, pulses, Uttar Pradesh. 

Introduction

The need for achieving food security is felt significantly in the recent years due to enormous pressure from the ever-increasing population in India. Owing to the change in preferences in crop production techniques over a period of time, several new challenges draw attention to food security.Uttar Pradesh is the fifth largest Indian state by area of 2,43,286 sq km or 93,933 sq miles comprising of over 199,581,477 inhabitants as of the 2011 census, becoming the most populous state in the country. The state is surrounded by the country of Nepal and Uttarakhand to the north, Delhi and Haryana to the northwest, Rajasthan to the west, Madhya Pradesh to the southwest, Bihar to the east and Jharkhand to the southeast [http://www.mapsofindia.com/uttar-pradesh/]. It is situated between 23°52' and 31°28' N latitudes and 77°3' and 84°39' E longitudes. It can be divided into three distinct distinct hypsographical regions, Himalayan region in the North which is highly rugged and varied terrain, Gangatic plain in the centre which is highly fertile, flat topography broken by numerous ponds, lakes and rivers and the Vindhya Hills and plateau in the south. The climate of Uttar Pradesh can also vary widely, with temperatures as high as 47 °C in summer, and as low as -1 °C in winter. The state has three distinct seasons, winter season from October to February; summer season from March to Mid-June and the rainy season from June to September. The state has 18 Divisions and 75 Districts with a total population of 19.98 Crores and density o f 829 per sq km as per Census 2011. U.P. is the most important agricultural state of India, not only it has the highest cropped area of 25,785,000 hectares, but it has the highest number of over 21
 Figure 1. Map of Uttar Prad 

Table 1. Agro Climatic Zones of Uttar Pradesh

million farm holdings as well. The state stands at Ist position at all India level in terms of food grain production and offers diverse agro climatic conditions which are conducive for agricultural production. The major crops grown in the state are paddy, wheat, sugarcane, potato, mustard, gram, pea, groundnut and lentil. The state is well established for the export of potatoes, rice, mangoes and vegetables. The state has set up as many 485 fruits and vegetable processing units. The state’s food grain production has increased from around 43 to around 47 million tons in 10 years of FY2001 to FY2011. Figure 1, Table 1-4.
Table 2. Food grain Production scenario in U.P

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from RBI, Ministry of Agriculture

Table 3. Contribution of U.P. to the Production of Some Agricultural Commodities

Source: Official website of Govt. of India and Uttar Pradesh

Table 4. Food grains production (in lac M.T.)

Source: Strategies to Achieve 11th Plan Target in the Balance Plan period, Government of U.P.
The total cultivated area of the state is 166.83 lac hectares and the gross cropped area is 255.24 lac hectares. The cropping intensity in the state is 153 percent. The area sown during rabi season is more compared to that in kharif. The area under sugarcane which is an annual crop is 0.38 lac hectares. The present share of Uttar Pradesh in total horticulture production of the country is approximately 26%. Uttar
Table 5. Area and Production of major crops in Five Year Plan Periods (Area in Lac. ha, Prod. in Lac. Metric tons)

Source: Official website of Govt. of India and Uttar Pradesh.
Table 6. Food security analysis of U.P, India
 
Source of information: Official website of Govt. of India and Uttar Pradesh, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Pradesh ranks third in fruits, and first in potato production among all states. Important fruits grown in the state are mango, guava, aonla, papaya, banana, litchis, jack-fruit, ber and citrus. The major vegetables grown in the state are peas, chilies, okra, tomato, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, melon, radish, carrot, turnip and cucurbits. The state has about 30.00 lac hectares under various horticultural crops. Uttar Pradesh is the second largest producer of vegetables in the country after West Bengal. Significant increase in area under vegetables has been recorded on small and marginal farms. As regards productivity, the productivity of fruits was 11.5 MT/Ha. During 2008-09 which is likely to increase to 12.18 MT/ha during 2009-10. Productivity of vegetables is likely to increase to 18.09 MT/ha from 17.28 MT/ha during 2008-09 (Table 5). The population of India is projected to attain a level of 1200 million by 2011, 26% of the total population is still living below the poverty line and is often undernourished and malnourished. It has been estimated that there is enough food to feed everyone in the world, but the people who are below poverty level have no access to adequate food because of their low purchasing power or capacity (food insecurity). The National Development Council (NDC) adopted a resolution to launch a food security mission, which exist when all people at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which requires their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Mission comprising rice, wheat and pulses to increase the production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of 11th plan (2011-12). Food sector also helps in the increasing production of rice, wheat and pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement in the identified district of the country. It also creates an employment opportunities, soil fertility and productivity of the individual farm level. 

Results of food security analysis 

Production of cereals, pulses, vegetables and fruits and their per capita availability is presented in Table 6. The analysis reveals that the per capita availability of the cereals exceed the ICMR dietary requirements
Table 7. State ranking by improvement in food insecurity index.
 
Source: The Times of India News Paper dated 27th Sep., 2010 
for moderate work. The per capita availability of cereals as estimated by the production and population was 630 g/day, whereas the recommended requirement of the cereals is 400 g/day. The results clearly indicate that the cereal production in Uttar Pradesh is sufficient to meet the demand (37%). The per capita availability of the pulses as estimated by the production and population was 41 g/day whereas the recommended pulses requirement for balance food is 60 g/day. The results revealed that the state of Uttar Pradesh, India have considerable shortage of pulses (32%). The per capita availability of the vegetables as estimated by the production and population was 605 g/day whereas the recommended requirement is 400 g/day. The results revealed that the vegetable production of state of Uttar Pradesh, India is considerably higher as compare to the demand (34%). However this estimation based on total vegetable production in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India without considering post harvest losses which is approximately 25-30% due poor storage facilities and transportation network. The per capita availability of fruits as estimated by the production and population was 225 g/day whereas the recommended fruits requirement in balance diet is 100 g/day. The results revealed the fruit production in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India is considerably higher as compared to the demand (56%). However this estimation based on total fruit production in the state of Uttar Pradesh without considering post harvest losses which is approximately 25 to 30% due poor storage and preservation facilities and transportation network. India moderately improves the food security situation between 1998 – 2000 and 2004 – 2006 and Uttar Pradesh showed the most dramatic improvement as compared with other states in India due to Uttar Pradesh government policies for improvement of overall agricultural production (Table 7).

Conclusion 

The food security analysis reveals that the state of Uttar Pradesh have considerable shortage of pulses mainly due to erratic rainfall, lack of irrigation facilities, lack of improved varieties and poor management of plant diseases. The state government shall initiate the following action to improve the pulse production in the state:

• Improve the soil fertility, irrigation infrastructure and water management practices. 
• Introduce the high yielding seed distribution system of pulse varieties. 
• Provide the effective insecticides and pesticides to control the diseases. 
• Increase the cultivated area of the pulses. 
• Increase the subsidy to the farmers for pulse production. 
• Introduce the crop insurance scheme. 
• Introduce the suitable post harvest technique.

Although the state of Uttar Pradesh is self sufficient in fruit production, however for sustainable fruit production, it is necessary to improve the fruit storage, preservation and transportation and distribution facilities. The state of Uttar Pradesh is highest milk producing state but the per capita availability is still considerably low as compared with recommended balanced diet. In order to improve the milk production it is necessary to implement the following suggestions: 

• To introduce high yielding breeds of cow, buffalo and goat. 
• To improve dairy cooperative system and provide clinical facilities for animals. 
• To improve milk processing, preservation and storage facilities. 
• To provide incentives to farmers for the green fodder production.

The government of India constituted National Food Security Mission in 2007-08 in order to improve food security of different state of India and country as a whole. The main objectives of National Food Security Mission is to increase production of farm crops, restore of soil fertility and productivity at individual farm level, creation of employment opportunities and enhancing farm level economy. It is estimated that the total area of 19.8 million hectare under food grains crop of Uttar Pradesh, roughly 6.6 million hectare will be shifted from agriculture to non-agriculture activity. As per the rough estimate 6.6 million hectare that would be taken out of farming would mean a production loss of 14 million tons of food grains. In other words Uttar Pradesh will be face in troubles food crisis in the year to come. Therefore, it is essential to develop food security strategies to avoid hunger and mal nutrition in the state of Uttar Pradesh. 

References 

Food Security and the Millennium Development Goal on Hunger in Asia (2003).
Overseas Development Institute, London, U.K. Food Security Strategy, Australian Government, Aus AID, May 2004. National Food Security Mission, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, August, 2007.
Singh NB, Mishra JP (2008). Towards Sustainable Foodgrain Production for National Food Security.
Strategies to Achieve 11th Plan Target in the Balance Plan Period, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
State Horticulture Mission, Uttar Pradesh, Annual Action Plans of 2010-11 to 2012-13 of State Horticulture Mission, U.P. for the Development of Horticulture in the State.
Radhakrishna R, Reddy KV (2020). Food Security and Nutrition: Vision.
Food Security of U.P. Small Farmers Threatened.
Note on Farm Sector in Uttar Pradesh, Department of Planning, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Animal Husbandry Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh. U.S. Agricultural Research in a Global Food Security Setting, A report of the CSIS task force on food security, Centre for strategic and International studies.