NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 Food Security in India

Food is as essential as air for survival, but food security means more than just eating daily meals. NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 explain that food security exists when all people always have access to enough safe, nutritious, and affordable food. Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 questions and answers clearly describe the three dimensions of food security—availability, accessibility, and affordability. The chapter also explains causes of food insecurity and the role of the Public Distribution System (PDS). These solutions help students understand key concepts easily and prepare well for exams.

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Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 Food Security in India Questions Answers

Exercises Page No 53 1. How is food security ensured in India? Answer: To ensure the availability of food to all sections of society, the Indian government carefully designed a food security system, which is composed of two components: (a) buffer stock and (b) public distribution system. Food security is ensured in India in the following ways:

1. Availability of Food – food produced in the country and the previous years’ stocks saved by the Government
2. Accessibility of Food – food reaches every citizen of the country
3. Affordability of Food – every individual should have the money to afford food which is safe and nutritious

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

  Answer: The people living below the poverty line might be food insecure all the time, while better-off people might also turn food insecure due to calamity or disaster. The social composition, along with the inability to buy food, also plays a role in food insecurity. The SCs, STs, and some sections of the OBCs (lower castes among them) who have either poor land-based or very low land productivity are prone to food insecurity. Other than these sections, people hit by a natural disaster are also likely to be food insecure.

 3. Which states are more food insecure in India?

  Answer: Eastern and south-eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are the largest food-insecure states in India.

 4. Do you believe that green revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How?

  Answer: Post-independence, India adopted a new strategy in the agricultural field which led to the Green Revolution, especially for the production of wheat and rice. Ever since, India has avoided famine even in adverse weather conditions, and varieties of crops have been grown all across the country. This availability of food grains, even in adverse conditions at the country level, ensured the Government had a proper food security system. Hence, it can be said that the green revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains.

 5. A section of people in India are still without food. Explain?

  Answer: A section of people in India is still without food despite a large increase in the food grain production in the country. This is because of the increased price of commodities and people not being able to afford food to feed themselves and their families. Unemployment can also be a cause of this chronic hunger that poor people suffer in rural areas.

 6. What happens to the supply of food when there is a disaster or calamity?

  Answer: When there is a disaster or calamity, the production and cultivation of food grains are highly affected. The production decreases, and this causes a shortage of food grains and, ultimately the hiked prices of food grains. The region affected by calamity might also turn into a food-insecure state if the calamity lasts for a longer period of time.

7. Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger?

  Answer: Hunger is one of the most important aspects indicating food security. Hunger results in poverty, and there are two dimensions of hunger – one is seasonal hunger and the other is chronic hunger.

The type of hunger that exists when a person is unable to get work for the entire year is called seasonal hunger.

Seasonal hunger is related to cycles of food growing and harvesting. This is prevalent in rural areas because of the seasonal nature of agricultural activities and in urban areas because of casual labourers. Chronic hunger is a consequence of diets persistently inadequate in terms of quantity and/or quality. Poor people suffer from chronic hunger because of their very low income and, in turn, inability to buy food even for survival. 

8. What has our government done to provide food security to the poor? Discuss any two schemes launched by the government? 

  Answer: The government has launched various schemes for the welfare of the people and to provide food security to the poor.

Two such schemes are Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Annapurna Scheme (APS).

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) – Launched in the year 2000, under this scheme, one crore of the poorest among the below-poverty-line families covered under the targeted public distribution system were identified, and 25 kg of food grains were provided to each eligible family at a highly subsidised rate of Rs. 2 per kg wheat and Rs. 3 per kg of rice.

The scheme was further expanded in the year 2003, and close to 50 lakh families below the poverty line were provided with food grains. Annapurna Scheme (APS) – Launched in the year 2000, the scheme aims to provide food to the senior citizens who have remained uncovered under the National Old Age Pension Scheme. The eligibility for an applicant is that they should be 65 years or above in age.

 9. Why buffer stock is created by the government?

  Answer: A buffer stock of food grains is created by the government so that it can be distributed in the food deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at a price much lower than the market price. A buffer stock also helps to resolve the problem of food shortage during adverse weather conditions, disasters or calamities. Thus, maintaining buffer stock is a step taken by the government in order to ensure food security.

 10. Write notes on: (a) Minimum support price – The Food Corporation of India 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. This price is called Minimum Support Price. Before the sowing season every year, the government announces the MSP, and the purchased food grains are stored in granaries.

 (b) Buffer stock – Buffer stock is the stock of food grains, mainly wheat and rice, procured by the Government through the Food Corporation of India. This buffer stock is used by the government in case of any calamity or disaster or for the poorer section of society.

  (c) Issue price – Food is kept in stocks in the form of buffer stock to distribute food grains in the deficit areas and among the poorer strata of the society at a price lower than the market. This price is also known as the Issue Price. (d) Fair price shops – Ration shops, also known as Fair Price Shops, keep stock of food grains, sugar, and kerosene for cooking. These items are sold to people at a price lower than the market price. Any family with a ration card can buy a stipulated amount of these items every month from the nearby ration shop.

 11. What are the problems of the functioning of ration shops?

  Answer: Ration shops, also known as Fair Price Shops, keep stock of food grains, sugar, and kerosene for cooking. These items are sold to people at a price lower than the market price. However, there are problems with the functioning of the ration shops:

1. The quality of food provided to poor people is less than the expected quality of food grains.
2. The ration shop deals indulge in malpractices and do not provide the poor people with the entire quantity they deserve.
3. Some ration shops are not opened regularly, and this causes discomfort to the poor.
4. The ration shopkeepers even update wrong entries in the name of the poor people.

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

 Answer: Along with the government, cooperatives also play an important role in ensuring food security in India, especially in the southern and western parts of the country.

The cooperative societies set up shops to sell low-priced goods to the poor. Out of all fair-price shops running in Tamil Nadu, around 94 per cent are being run by cooperatives.

Mother Dairy, in Delhi, is involved in providing milk and vegetables at controlled rates decided by the government. Amul, responsible for the White Revolution in India, is a cooperative involved in providing milk and milk products. The Academy of Development Science (ADS) in Maharashtra has been involved in the setting up of Grain Banks in different regions.

It organises training and capacity-building programmes on food security for NGOs. Its efforts are also directed towards influencing the government’s policy on food security. Thus, through these examples, it can be seen that cooperatives are playing an active role in the distribution of food and related items.

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Understanding Food Security in India

To truly understand this chapter, we need to look at how our country makes sure no one goes hungry. Food security has three main parts:

• Availability: This means food is produced in the country, imported from outside, or stored in government buildings.

• Accessibility: This means food is within reach for every single person.

• Affordability: This means everyone has enough money to buy quality food.

When we talk about class 9th economics chapter 4 question answers ncert, we see that a country is only food secure if there is enough food for everyone and no one faces any walls or barriers to getting that food.

Why is Food Security Important for India?

Sometimes, big problems like floods, droughts, or earthquakes happen. These are called natural calamities. When a drought occurs, total food production goes down. This creates a shortage of food. When food is less, the prices go up. Poor people find it very hard to buy food at high prices.

If this problem persists for long, it can lead to starvation. In the worst cases, it leads to a famine. A famine is very scary because many people die from hunger and diseases. The most famous was the 1943 Bengal Famine, where 30 lakh people died. This is why having class 9th economics chapter 4 question answers in short helps us understand that the government must be ready for such disasters.

Who are the Most Food Insecure People?

Not everyone faces the same level of food trouble. Some groups are more at risk than others. In rural areas, people with no land or very little land, small artisans, and traditional workers are often food insecure. In cities, people who do casual labor or work in low-paying jobs suffer the most.

class 9th economics chapter 4 question answer often highlights that social groups like SC, ST, and some OBC sections are also very vulnerable. Additionally, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and small children under 5 years old need extra care because they can easily become weak without proper food.

India's Path to Self-Sufficiency and the Green Revolution

After India became independent, our leaders wanted the country to grow its own food. They introduced a new plan in agriculture called the Green Revolution in the late 1960s. This was very successful, especially for crops like wheat and rice.

Because of the Green Revolution, India has avoided major famines even when the weather was bad. This is a very important part of class 9th economics chapter 4 question answer. Today, India grows many different types of crops all over the country.

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How Does the Government Ensure Food Security?

The Indian government has a special system to protect its citizens. This system has two big parts:

1. Buffer Stock

The government buys wheat and rice from farmers who have extra. They pay the farmers a fixed price called the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The Food Corporation of India (FCI) then stores this food in big granaries. This is called a buffer stock. It is used during emergencies or given to poor people at a low price.

2. Public Distribution System (PDS)

The food from the buffer stock is sent to "Ration Shops" or "Fair Price Shops." There are about 5.5 lakh ration shops in India today. People with ration cards can buy food, sugar, and kerosene at prices much lower than the market price. This is very helpful for families who don't have much money.

Class 9th Economics Chapter 4 Question Answers - Exercise Solutions

Q1: How is food security ensured in India?

Food security in India is ensured through a two-part system:

• Buffer Stock: The government keeps a large stock of food grains (wheat and rice) to use in times of shortage.

• Public Distribution System (PDS): Food is distributed to the poor through ration shops at subsidized prices.

Q2: Which states are more food insecure in India?

The states with the most food insecure people are:

• Uttar Pradesh (Eastern and South-eastern parts)

• Bihar and Jharkhand

• Odisha and West Bengal

• Chhattisgarh

• Parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra

Q3: Differentiate between Seasonal Hunger and Chronic Hunger.

• Chronic Hunger: This happens when people consistently don't get enough food because of very low income. It is a long-term problem.

• Seasonal Hunger: This is related to cycles of food growing and harvesting. For example, a farmer might have no work during the rainy season and faces hunger only during those months.

Q4: What are the problems with the functioning of Ration Shops?

Some common problems are:

• Grain quality is sometimes poor.

• Shopkeepers may sell the good food in the open market for a higher profit.

• Shops are not always open at the right time.

• Many homeless people don't have a fixed address, so they can't get a ration card.

Q5: What is the Cooperatives ' role in food security?

Cooperatives play a vital part, especially in Southern and Western India. They set up shops to sell goods at low prices to poor people. For example, Mother Dairy provides milk and vegetables at controlled prices in Delhi, and Amul is a famous milk cooperative from Gujarat.

Important Government Schemes

Apart from the PDS, the government has started other programs to help:

• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): This was started in 2000 for the poorest of the poor. They get 35 kg of foodgrain at very low prices.

• Annapurna Scheme (APS): This is for senior citizens who are very poor and don't get a pension. They receive 10 kg of free foodgrains monthly.

• Mid-Day Meal Scheme: This provides free cooked lunch to children in government schools.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Economics Chapter 4 FAQs

1. What is the Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

MSP is the price the government promises to pay farmers for their crops before the sowing season. This encourages farmers to grow more.

2. What is the Issue Price?

The price at which the government sells food grains from its buffer stock to the poor through ration shops is called the Issue Price.

3. Why do we need a Buffer Stock?

We need it to make sure there is enough food during natural disasters like floods or when crops fail due to bad weather.

4. Who is responsible for buying and storing foodgrains in India?

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the main organization that buys and stores foodgrains for the government.

5. How did the Green Revolution help India?

It made India "self-sufficient," meaning we can now grow enough food for our entire population without relying on other countries.