NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Economics Chapter 4 Food Security in India

NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Economics Chapter 4 Food Security in India explains the importance of ensuring that all people have access to enough food for a healthy life. The chapter covers the meaning of food security, its main components, and why it is important in a country like India. It also highlights the role of the Public Distribution System (PDS), government schemes, and measures taken to avoid food shortages and hunger.

These NCERT Solutions are prepared from the official NCERT textbook and help students clearly understand the topic in simple words. They provide information on how food security is linked to poverty, natural disasters, and agricultural production. The solutions also make it easier to prepare for exams by explaining concepts in a way that strengthens the understanding of India’s food security system.

1.0Download NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 Food Security in India : Free PDF

Download NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 Food Security in India in our free PDF, prepared by experts to help you learn easily and revise effectively for exams.

2.0Important Concepts Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 Food Security in India : Brief Explanation

This chapter discusses the concept of food security, its necessity in India, and the measures taken to ensure that every citizen has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.

• Meaning of Food Security:
  Food security means ensuring the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food for all people at all times.
• Importance of Food Security in India:
  Essential to prevent hunger, malnutrition, and famine, especially for vulnerable populations such as the poor and landless.
• Dimensions of Food Security:
• 1. Availability of Food – Adequate production and supply.
  2. Accessibility of Food – People’s ability to get food.
  3. Affordability of Food – Economic capacity to buy nutritious food.
• Causes of Food Insecurity:
  Poverty, unemployment, natural disasters, crop failures, and lack of proper distribution systems.
• Public Distribution System (PDS):
  Government-run network for distributing essential food grains at subsidized rates to the poor.
• Role of Buffer Stock:
  Maintained by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to stabilize prices and ensure food availability during shortages.
• Government Schemes:
  Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Annapurna Scheme – all aimed at providing food to different sections of society.
• Significance of Food Security:
  Prevents malnutrition, promotes health, reduces poverty-related hunger, and strengthens national stability.

3.0NCERT Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4: Detailed Solutions

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 service (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, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are more foodinsecure in India.
4. Do you believe that Green Revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How? Ans. Yes, Green Revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains. Crops are now grown throughout the year which allows India to have buffer stocks. There has been no incidence of famine in India even during bad seasons.
5. A section of people in India are still without food. Explain. Ans. Despite large increase in foodgrain production we find people without food in India. Poor people suffer from chronic hunger. They find themselves unable to buy food. Over one-fifth of the country's population still suffers from chronic hunger.
6. What happens to the supply of food when there is a disaster or a calamity? Ans. The supply of food is adversely affected during a natural calamity or disaster. Due to a natural calamity, say drought, the production of food grains is less and hence supply decreases.
7. 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 less labourers earn very less to earn enough for food.
8. What has our government done to provide food security for the poor? Discuss any two schemes launched by the government. Ans. Our government has undertaken a number of measures to provide food security for the poor. A brief account of these measures is given below : (1) Maintenance of Buffer Stock : Our government maintains buffer stock of foodgrains through Food Corporation of India. The FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers in surplus states and stores in granaries. (2) Public distribution system (PDS) : The food procured by the FCI is distributed among the poor through ration shops. Presently, there are about 4.6 lakh ration shops in the country. (3) Nutritional programmes : In order to provide nutritional security, our government has launched various schemes. Mid-day meal scheme for school children, scheme for supply of foodgrains to scheduled castes/ scheduled tribes and special nutrition programmes for pregnant /nursing mothers are examples of such schemes. In 2000, two special schemes were launched. One, Antyodaya anna yojana and second, the Annapurna schemes. The former relates to the poorest of the poor, while the latter targets indigent senior citizens. The functioning of these two schemes was linked with the PDS. Under AAY scheme, thirty- five kilograms of food grains is made available to eligible persons free of cost.
9. Why is buffer stock created by the government? Ans. The government creates buffer stock of foodgrains to protect the interest of both farmers as well as consumers. Farmer's 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 subsidised rates. This task is done through fair price shops.
10. Write notes on : (a) Minimum support price (b) Issue Price (c) Fair price shops
    Ans. (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 preannounced prices. This price is called minimum support price (MSP). (b) Issue price: The purchased foodgrains are stored in granaries. This is done to distribute foodgrains among the poorer section of the society. The government makes foodgrains 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.
11. What are the problems of the functioning of ration shops?
    Ans. There is various problem of the functioning of ration shops such as :
    (1) Ration cards are issued only to those people who have their proper residential addresses. Hence a large number of homeless poor fail to get ration from these shops.
    (2) The owners of these shops sell ration in the open market at higher prices.
    (3) Sometimes shopkeepers make bogus entries in the ration cards.
12. 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 an 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.

4.0Key Features and Benefits of Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 Food Security in India

• Importance for India: Highlights why food security is a big concern in India due to population size, poverty, and natural disasters.
• Government Role: Describes the steps taken by the government like the Public Distribution System (PDS) and food grain reserves to ensure no one goes hungry.
• Causes of Food Insecurity: Helps students understand reasons like poverty, poor food distribution, and crop failure.
• Schemes and Programs: Introduces important schemes like the Midday Meal Scheme and Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
• Real-life Examples: Includes simple stories and examples to connect the topic with daily life.
• Builds Awareness: Encourages students to think about the importance of food availability and reducing wastage.
• Exam-Friendly: Covers key points and concepts that are useful for quick revision.