A provincial study of food safety measures in Bundelkhand region in India

Abstract

In the present study the authors have attempted to analyse the condition of food security in the
Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh at district level. Bundelkhand region has been chosen as a unit of
study because it is one of the poorest regions in comparison with western, central and eastern regions
of the state and even after being in close proximity to heartland of green revolution (Punjab, Haryana
and Western Uttar Pradesh) the region is still backward in agricultural development in India in general.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and mostly dependent on monsoonal rainfall. The
Bundelkhand is continuously facing drought since last few years and people are migrating for
employment. Thus, there is an urgent need to look after the conditions of food security of the people
living in this region. The standard statistical techniques have been used for the analysis of data. The
study concludes that the condition of food security is unfavourable. Only one district of Jalaun has
shown high food security. Majority of the districts are moderate and low food secure because of low
food grain availability, low purchasing power of the people, etc. The irrigation facilities are also not well
developed leading to low consumption of fertilizer and low productivity of crops. Employment rate, rate
of urbanization, storage capacity and number of fair prices shops are also not satisfactory leading to
pitiable food security condition in the study area.