Abstract

The food security needs to be viewed in the context of slow growth in agriculture in the last decade and increasing population. In India, agricultural production growth declined to 2.09 per cent per annum in 1990s from 3.82 per cent in 1980s. The most recent figures showed that the growth of agriculture and allied sector declined to 1.6 per cent in 2008-09. In the 1970s food security was mostly considered in terms of food supplies. The modern concept of ‘food security’ goes beyond mere increase in food production and emphasis people’s entitlement to food. “Entitlement” refers to the set of income and resource bundles over which households can establish control and secure their livelihoods. This paper traces supply side and demand side factors that influence the food security.

Keywords: Food security, Agriculture