Food Security in Madhya Pradesh

Is the food plate in MP becoming empty?

Sachin Kumar Jain

Money is increasing but food plate is becoming empty!! At least latest trends of food consumption patterns are scathing new pictures of Chronic Hunger. Many reports are now unanimous that the number of people afflicted with hunger is increasing rapidly. Development process is moving so fast, that the common person is left behind as if they don't exist. Development, social inclusion and elimination of poverty has emerged as new targets in the political battle field now, but all these jargons still lack in perspective. And in this context latest NSSO report released by Government of India on consumption patterns in India (which includes consumption on food and other essentials for life) shows a decline in level of food consumptions. Various analyses have shown that these findings are actually revealing the actual face of poverty elimination programs and that of the concept of development without protecting agriculture.

Overall, the level of food consumption in rural areas of our country is declining. In 2005-06, an average of 11.920 KGs food grain was consumed per month by a member of the family and to acquire this, the family had to spend Rs. 106.30 per month. But in 2006-07, the average food consumption came down to 11.685 KGs per person (1.97% decline) in the family, and their cost to acquire it had risen to Rs. 114.80 at this consumption level.

The changing consumption pattern in Madhya Pradesh in itself points towards a deep crisis of food security in the state. On an average, a person in rural Madhya Pradesh was consuming 11.48 kgs food or grain per month in 2005-06 and was spending Rs. 86.46 to acquire this amount of food, but per person food consumption has declined to the level of 9.718 kgs per month and sees a negative change of 15.34% and expenditure level is almost the same i.e. Rs. 87.27. It clearly shows the impact of inflation on changing food consumption levels.

Moving to food and other consumption analyses, rural Kerala spends a total amount of Rs 505.52 and Punjab Rs. 511.25 on food group (cereal, milk, meat, dry fruit, vegetables etc.), whereas in Madhya Pradesh this expenditure is 263.86. It simply means that 80.5% of their total expenditure is being spent for food arrangements.

Data speak for themselves. Interestingly, Kerala people spend Rs. 83.69 on egg, fish and meat while Madhya Pradesh individual spends only Rs. 7.44 per month on these items. Punjab definitely spends less on food grain (Rs. 91.86) but the total expenditure on food group is Rs. 511.25 per person per month and they consume milk and milk products worth Rs 167.24 (32.71% of total food expenditure), while, an individual from Madhya Pradesh spends only Rs. 44.75 per month on these.

Haryana and Himachal Pradesh spend biggest part (41.46 percent and 27.17 percent respectively) of their total food expenditure on Milk or Milk products. The difference in overall per capita expenditure is worth mentioning. The per capita average expenditure in Madhya Pradesh is one of the lowest in the country at Rs. 514.93 per month, whereas it is Rs 1250.35 in Kerala, Rs. 1198.93 in Punjab and Rs. 1117.49 in Himachal Pradesh – more then double in any case. It goes without saying that higher expenditure is directly linked with livelihood and subsistence security, and unfortunately, it is again lacking in Madhya Pradesh.

As per the NSSO data released in October 2008, Madhya Pradesh [9.72] is third lowest in terms of monthly per capita cereal consumption [kg.] preceding Kerala [9.37] and Punjab [9.63]. This does not mean that progressive and rich states like Kerala and Punjab are the worst performer then Madhya Pradesh. Punjab (Rs 511), in India, is on top on food expenditure list followed by Kerala (Rs. 506) and Madhya Pradesh spends the lowest amount (Rs. 263) on Food per person. On the other hand Kerala, being a coastal state, has fish and fruits in their food plate and Punjab consumes Milk and milk products in large quantity, with the result that their cereal consumption is lower than Madhya Pradesh which is not a coastal state or a non-veg consumer. Moreover, Kerala and Punjab are considered as affluent and developed states, and studies have shown that affluence also brings changes in food consumption pattern, packaged food becoming main chunk of food plates, especially in Punjab and metro states. Since Madhya Pradesh does not have such high purchasing capacity required for consumption of non-cereal food items, people have to depend mainly upon the cereals. It is also serious to note that food grain production in Madhya Pradesh has declined rapidly in last one decade. With this backdrop, low food grain consumption in Madhya Pradesh is a serious matter.

(The edited version of this article was published in Hindustan Times on January 5, 2009)