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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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