Food Security Atlas in Rural Jharkhand – 2021

Overview:

IGIDR, along with SPANDAN (System of Promoting Appropriate National Dynamism for Agriculture and Nutrition) India, conducted a comprehensive study aimed at understanding food security in rural Jharkhand. This study aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals-2 (SDG-2: Zero Hunger).

Aims and Objectives: The research aims to examine food security at the district level using disaggregated data. It will compute the Food Security Index (FSI), which comprises Food Availability, Access to Food, and Food Utilization indices. The study will analyze inter-district inequalities and food security outcomes. Additionally, it will compute the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for rural Jharkhand (2019-2021) and explore its relationship with the FSI and Food Security Outcomes (FSO).

Findings:

1. Food Security Index (FSI) Inequality: Examine significant inter-district disparities in food availability, accessibility, and utilization, and how these inequalities impact food security outcomes.
2. Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Correlation: Analyze how the MPI reflects the socio-economic status of districts and its relationship with the Food Security Index (FSI) and food security outcomes (FSO).

 Policy Implications:

1. Expand Food Availability: Improve irrigation in rainfed areas with high rainfall variability, and promote crop diversification and kitchen gardens to boost food supply.
2. Increase Access to Food: Create non-farm employment opportunities to enhance economic stability and wages, and encourage millet cultivation for its nutritional and climate-resilient benefits.
3. Improve Food Utilization: Strengthen basic health infrastructure, provide safe drinking water, and enhance sanitation facilities to reduce diseases and promote water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives.
4. Enhance Female Literacy: Improve female literacy rates to positively influence household nutrition, sanitation, and health. Implement literacy and adult education programs, especially in priority districts.

 Key Policy Measures:

1. Mitigate Rainfall Variability: Develop strategies to address the negative impacts of inconsistent rainfall on agriculture.
2. Encourage Crop and Dietary Diversification: Promote diverse agricultural practices and expand dietary options to enhance food security.
3. Enhance Employment and Non-Farm Investment: Increase job opportunities in non-agricultural sectors to boost overall economic stability.
4. Advocate for Millets: Support the cultivation and consumption of millets due to their nutritional value and adaptability to climate change.
5. Improve WASH Access: Enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities to improve health outcomes and optimize food utilization.

This study provides a detailed analysis of food security in rural Jharkhand, highlighting the significant inequalities and offering targeted policy recommendations to enhance food availability, access, and utilization.