Ericksen et al.’s model is significant because of its joint consideration of both
climate-science and social factors. North-western India is identified as a global hot
spot for climate-stress to food availability because of the combination, and therefore
mutual reinforcing nature, of its vulnerabilities. Yet, Ericksen et al.’s model tells
only part of the story about the significance of north-western India, because it does
not address the significance of this region in making food staples available to the
rest of the nation. Disruptions to agricultural production systems in north-western
India would cause massive repercussions across the country. To put it simply,
India’s current food system depends crucially on what has been identified as the
most climate-sensitive portion of the nation.
The problems of this dependence have not gone unnoticed by international
research institutes and New Delhi policy-makers. Investments have taken place to
stimulate higher rice yields and production levels in the eastern Gangetic Plains,
notably in Bihar and Chhattisgarh. This agenda clearly also seeks to address the
needs for development in these poverty-stricken states. Expansion plans for staple
crop cultivation in the eastern Gangetic Plain would additionally seek to utilize the
principles of climate-smart agriculture, whereby extension agencies and research
institutes take into account climate-sensitivity when recommending seed varieties,
agronomic practices and related livelihood arrangements.
These issues sketched above have vital long-term implications for India. Despite
its impressive growth in agricultural production levels since the 1970s,
under-nutrition is still widespread. Current estimates are that there are 195 million
under-nourished persons in India, representing 15.2 % of the population (FAO et al.
2015: 46). At the same time, in recent years the storage of cereal grains by the
state-owned Food Corporation of India has been at near-record highs, and India is a
net exporter of cereals. Evidently therefore, being able to produce more than
enough cereal grains to feed India’s population has not translated into India’s
population being adequately fed. If climate change impacts adversely on India’s
agricultural production capabilities, especially in terms of cereal staples, the challenge of attaining food security for all of India’s population will become increasingly complex. But as indicated earlier in this chapter, issues of food production are
only one dimension of the climate change/food security dynamic. Of additional
importance is the question of how climate change may affect people’s social and
economic access to food, and it is to this issue, this chapter now turns.
3 Climate Change and People’s Access to Food
While the direct impacts on agricultural production is the obvious starting point for
assessment of the climate change/food security relationship, it needs remembering
that most of the world’s population do not grow their own food, but gain access to
food access through the market. Hence, of key significance in this debate is the
extent to which climate change will impact upon food prices and hence, people’s
economic access to food. Oxfam typified this problem with the campaign statement:
The Impacts of Climate Change for Food and Nutrition Security: …
15
climate-science and social factors. North-western India is identified as a global hot
spot for climate-stress to food availability because of the combination, and therefore
mutual reinforcing nature, of its vulnerabilities. Yet, Ericksen et al.’s model tells
only part of the story about the significance of north-western India, because it does
not address the significance of this region in making food staples available to the
rest of the nation. Disruptions to agricultural production systems in north-western
India would cause massive repercussions across the country. To put it simply,
India’s current food system depends crucially on what has been identified as the
most climate-sensitive portion of the nation.
The problems of this dependence have not gone unnoticed by international
research institutes and New Delhi policy-makers. Investments have taken place to
stimulate higher rice yields and production levels in the eastern Gangetic Plains,
notably in Bihar and Chhattisgarh. This agenda clearly also seeks to address the
needs for development in these poverty-stricken states. Expansion plans for staple
crop cultivation in the eastern Gangetic Plain would additionally seek to utilize the
principles of climate-smart agriculture, whereby extension agencies and research
institutes take into account climate-sensitivity when recommending seed varieties,
agronomic practices and related livelihood arrangements.
These issues sketched above have vital long-term implications for India. Despite
its impressive growth in agricultural production levels since the 1970s,
under-nutrition is still widespread. Current estimates are that there are 195 million
under-nourished persons in India, representing 15.2 % of the population (FAO et al.
2015: 46). At the same time, in recent years the storage of cereal grains by the
state-owned Food Corporation of India has been at near-record highs, and India is a
net exporter of cereals. Evidently therefore, being able to produce more than
enough cereal grains to feed India’s population has not translated into India’s
population being adequately fed. If climate change impacts adversely on India’s
agricultural production capabilities, especially in terms of cereal staples, the challenge of attaining food security for all of India’s population will become increasingly complex. But as indicated earlier in this chapter, issues of food production are
only one dimension of the climate change/food security dynamic. Of additional
importance is the question of how climate change may affect people’s social and
economic access to food, and it is to this issue, this chapter now turns.
3 Climate Change and People’s Access to Food
While the direct impacts on agricultural production is the obvious starting point for
assessment of the climate change/food security relationship, it needs remembering
that most of the world’s population do not grow their own food, but gain access to
food access through the market. Hence, of key significance in this debate is the
extent to which climate change will impact upon food prices and hence, people’s
economic access to food. Oxfam typified this problem with the campaign statement:
The Impacts of Climate Change for Food and Nutrition Security: …
15