1. MSP refers to:

(a) Minimum Support Price(b) Maximum Support Price(c) Marginal Support Price(d) None of the above

2. The worst affected groups in rural areas facing food insecurity are:

(a) Landless people(b) Traditional artisans(c) Beggars(d) All the above

4. Public Distribution System is associated with:

(a) Fair price shops(b) Cooperative stores(c) Super bazaars(d) None of the above

5. Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) aimed to provide benefits to:(a) Cities(b) Remote and backward areas(c) Self-help groups(d) Cooperative societies

7. Annapurna Scheme (APS) meets the food requirements of:

(a) Indigent senior citizens(b) Children(c) Pregnant ladies(d) Young persons

8. Antyodaya cards are related to(a) All poor(b) Poorest of the poor(c) Persons below poverty line(d) None of the above

9. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Annapurna Scheme (APS) are linked with:(a) Public distribution system(b) Mid-day meal(c) Special nutrition programme(d) None of the above

10. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) food grains given per family per month are:(a) 40 kg(b) 35 kg(c) 25 kg(d) 20 kg

14. Minimum Support Price (MSP) is announced by the government to provide:(a) Incentives to farmers for raising production(b) Incentives to traders to earn maximum profit from farmers(c) Incentives to moneylenders to lend maximum to farmers(d) None of the above

17. Main purpose of buffer stock scheme is:

(a) To save food grains from pest attack(b) To stop price fluctuations(c) To meet the crisis of low production(d) Both (b) and (c)Ans. (d)

18. Under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), subsidized rate for wheat is:(a) Rs 3/- per kg(b) Rs 2/- per kg(c) Rs 4/- per kg(d) Rs 5/- per kg

19. Food security means:(a) Availability of food(b) Accessibility of food(c) Affordability of food(d) All the above

20. Massive starvation takes place due to:(a) Rise in the price of essential commodities(b) Decline in production of food grains(c) Drought(d) Both (a) and (b)

23. In which of the following states do we find the largest number of food insecure people?

(a) Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa(b) Bihar, Jharkhand and Gujarat(c) Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Tamilnadu(d) Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka

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

(a) Issue price(b) Fair price(c) Market price(d) Minimum support price

33. F.C.I. stands for 

(a) Foreign Co-operation with India(b) Food Corporation of India(c) Fossils Corporation of India(d) Food Coming to India

37. Buffer stock is the stock of food grains procured by the government through

(a) IFCI(b) FCI(c) IDBI(d) FICCI

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

1. (a) Minimum Support Price2. (d) All the above3. (a) Use of HYV seeds4. (a) Fair price shops5. (b) Remote and backward areas6. (b) Milk7. (a) Indigent senior citizens8. (b) Poorest of the poor9. (a) Public distribution system10. (b) 35 kg11. (b) Tamil Nadu12. (a) 1 kg13. (b) Academy of Development Science (Maharashtra)14. (a) Incentives to farmers for raising production15. (b) Rural areas16. (a) Wheat17. (d) Both (b) and (c)18. (b) Rs 2/- per kg19. (d) All the above20. (c) Drought21. (d) All the above22. (b) Bengal23. (a) Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa24. (a) Rajasthan25. (b) Indira Gandhi26. (d) Minimum support price27. (d) People below the poverty line28. (a) Poorest of the poor29. (c) 200430. (a) Orissa31. (d) Delhi32. (a) Malnutrition33. (b) Food Corporation of India34. (d) APS35. (c) Mother Dairy36. (d) All of these37. (b) FCI38. (d) Maharashtra39. (c) In Dec 200040. (b) Decreased41. (b) Amartya Sen42. (b) Grain banks43. (d) Collector44. (a) APS45. (c) 200246. (c) Kalahandi and Kashipur

47. (c) Palamau48. (b) 197549. (b) 100-days of assured work50. (a) 1940s

Question1.(a) Why is agriculture a seasonal activity?Ans: Agriculture is a seasonal occupation because farmers remain out of work for 4 to 5 months in a year.

QUESTIONS OF THE EXERCISE

1. When is food security ensured?Ans. Food security is ensured under the following conditions:(a) When food is available in adequate quantity as well as quality to meet nutritional requirements.(b) When food is within the reach of every person.(c) When an individual has enough money to buy sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet one’s dietary needs.

2. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity?Ans: People more prone to food insecurity are:(i) Landless and small farmers(ii) Traditional artisans(iii) Providers of traditional services(iv) Petty self-employed persons and(v) Beggars

3. Which states are more food insecure in India?Ans: More food insecure states of India:The states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are more food-insecure in India.

Why is buffer stock created by the government?

Ans: The government creates buffer stock of food grains to protect the interest of both farmers as well as consumers. Farmers’ interests are protected when they are assured to get a certain minimum price for their crops. This price is called ‘minimum support price’.The interests of the consumers are protected when the procured food is made available to the consumers at subsidized rates. This task is done through fair price shops.

10. Write notes on:(a) Minimum Support Price(b) Issue Price(c) Fair Price ShopsAns:(a) Minimum Support Price: With a view to provide incentives to the farmers for raising the production of their crops, the government announces price of some crops before the sowing season. The government remains ready to purchase their crops at these pre-announced prices. This price is called minimum support price (MSP).

(b) Issue Price: The purchased food grains are stored in granaries. This is done to distribute food grains among the poorer section of the society. The government makes food grains available to the poor at a price

much lower than the market price. This is known as issue price.

(c) Fair Price Shops: The food procured by the government is distributed among the poor. This task is done through government regulated shops which are known as fair price shops.

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

Ans: Role of Cooperatives in providing food and related items is as follows:-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 being run by the cooperatives. In Delhi, Mother Dairy is providing 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.

1. What are the essentials of food security system?

Ans: Essentials of Food Security System are the following:a. Increasing domestic production of food to meet its growing demandb. Food should be available in adequate quantity as well as to meet nutritional requirementsc. Food should be available at reasonable pricesd. Buffer stock of food should be maintained

2. How is food security affected during a natural calamity?Ans: In the times of any natural calamity, say a drought, total production of food grains declines. It creates a shortage of food, particularly in the affected areas. Due to shortage of food, the prices go up in the market. At high prices, poor people may not afford to buy food. If such a calamity occurs in a large area, it may lead to starvation.

3. Why is there need for self-sufficiency in food grains in India?Ans: Need for self-sufficiency in food grains arises from the following:(i) To feed growing population(ii) To fight against any natural calamity(iii) To reduce import of food grains(iv) To control prices of food grains

Mention two objectives of PDS.

Ans: Two Objectives of PDS:(i) To provide essential goods at subsidized prices to the consumers.(ii) To control prices of essential commodities.

What is the Public Distribution System?

Ans: Public Distribution SystemThe Food Corporation of India procures food at pre-announced prices. The state governments distribute food grains to poor through ration shops at subsidized prices fixed by the government. This is called the Public Distribution System. There are about 4.6 lakh ration shops all over the country. Ration shops are also known as fair price shops.

How cooperatives are 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 food grains and 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 much 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 'White Revolution' in India.

12. Why is food security essential? How food security is affected during disaster?

Ans: Need of food security: The poorest section of the society might be food-insecure most of the times, 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 food grain 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.

13. 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 food grain items should be within the reach of the people.

Why is buffer stock created by the government? Give any three reasons.

Ans: Buffer stock is created due to 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.

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

Ans: People more prone to food insecurity are:(i) Landless and small farmers(ii) Traditional artisans(iii) Providers of traditional services(iv) Petty self-employed persons and(v) Beggars

3. Which states are more food insecure in India?

Ans: More food insecure states of India:The states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are more food-insecure in India.

5. Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger.

Ans: Hunger has seasonal and chronic dimensions. Seasonal hunger is a consequence of seasonal nature of work. For example, agriculture in India is seasonal occupation. Farm labourers remain out of work during some months of the year. Hence, during off-season poor people are not able to buy food. On the other hand, chronic hunger exists among people who are not able to buy food because of their very low income. For example land fewer labourers earn very less to earn enough for food.

6. What is buffer stock? Why is it created by the government?

Ans. Buffer stock is the stock of food grains, namely wheat and rice procured by the government through Food Corporation of India (FCI). The FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers in states where there is surplus production. The farmers are paid a pre-announced price for their crops. Buffer stock is created to distribute food grains in deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at price lower than the market price. It is also used at the time of adverse weather conditions.