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 Applications of Science and technology have multiplied in recent times, touching every aspect of our lives. Advances made in communications, production technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, space technology and so on have made a difference to the lives of most people. No doubt science has contributed to economic development of the
country. Yet it is a pity that we could not fully solve the basic problems of hunger and poverty in the country. There are 158.22 million people in the country consuming diets deficient in calories. The publications of M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on rural and urban food insecurity and food security highlight the problems of hunger, poverty and deprivation and the importance of sustaining the food production by conserving the natural resource base of fertile land, water, forests and biodiversity.
On 28th February, 2004, the MSSRF held a Media-Scientists interaction to observe the National Science Day with special emphasis on Food security issues.
Dr Velayutham, Executive Director, MSSRF, delivered the welcome address.
On the topic of 'Lessons for public policy and action from the Food insecurity atlases of India',
Dr Swarna S Vepa Dr R Rukmani, Dr Ganesh Prasad and Deepa Varma made presentations.
Prof M S Swaminathan, the Foundation chairman, made a presentation on 'AGENDA 2007: TOWARDS A HUNGER FREE INDIA - Road Map'.
The Media- Scientists Interaction had N Ram, Editor-in-chief of The Hindu, as the moderator.
Science and Technology to end Hunger
February 28 has been declared as the National Science day. On this day, more than hundred years ago, Sir
C V Raman announced the discovery of the 'Raman Effect'. The country's excellence in modern Science and Technology dates back to more than hundred years. The vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was to apply Science and Technology to provide better living to millions of poor, hungry and ignorant. Thus food production, employment, and literacy were central to the Indian Five year Plans, said a paper prepared by the Foundation..
 Applications of Science and technology have multiplied in recent times, touching every aspect of our lives. Advances made in communications, production technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, space technology and so on made a differences to the lives of most people. No doubt science has contributed to economic development of the country.
Yet it is a pity that we could not solve the basic problems of hunger and poverty in the country. There are 158.22 million people in the country, 112 million in the rural areas and 46.22 million in urban areas put together, consuming diets deficient in calories (less than 1890 kilocalories per consumer unit per day in 1999-2000) There are many more millions consuming diets deficient in micronutrients such as iron, vitamins calcium and so on.
The work done by MSSRF on rural and urban Food security highlights the problems of hunger, poverty and deprivation in rural and urban areas. MSSRF looked not only at the present position of the states but also their sustainability aspects in the third publication. This publication highlights the importance of sustaining the food production by conserving the natural resource base of fertile land, water, forests and biodiversity. It also stresses the importance of sustaining livelihoods in two ways. Livelihoods in agriculture could be sustained through environmental friendly productivity enhancing technologies on one hand and provision of livelihoods in non-agricultural sector through economic expansion on the other hand.
Food security can be defined as the ability of a person to eat enough, stay active, and lead a healthy life. The components that contribute to it are availability (which is a function of home production and imports when and where necessary), access (which is a function of purchasing power and livelihood opportunities), and absorption (which is a function of safe drinking water, environmental hygiene, primary health care, and education). Food availability, food access, and food absorption are not separate phenomena -- they overlap in significant ways. Food production is linked to livelihood access, food access, and food.
Livelihood access, in turn, influences the demand for food, and better prices and incentives for production. Better livelihood access also leads to better education, better living standards, better sanitation, better knowledge of nutrition, better absorption, and better health.
 In Rural India, the depth and spread of hunger is more in areas with deficit production and where there is greater dependence on casual employment as in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Non-agricultural employment and low wages to labour as in the case of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar also contribute to hunger. States with large percentage of their population below the poverty line- Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are particularly vulnerable. The families and individuals suffering from hunger and malnutrition will have to be identified. Existing programmes and projects of the Government like the PDS, ICDS, Mid-day meals and Antyodaya Anna Yojna will have to be mobilized to ensure that they reach those who have been bypassed.
While states like Haryana and Punjab are doing very well in terms of present production, the extent of environmental degradation is very high casting doubt on the sustainability of their production. Ground water overexploitation has reached dangerous levels in Punjab, Haryana and Tamil Nadu. Watersheds of several river basins seem to have degraded considerably, causing reduced water flows. Fruit crops and plantations have encroached on forestland. Diversification of livelihoods into non-agricultural enterprises will have to be encouraged to reduce pressure on land. A sustainable water security system comprising supply augmentation, demand management and tapping untapped sources using new technologies will have to be put in place. Panchayats will have to be empowered to ensure sustainable management of common property resources.
In urban India, the cereal intake of the lowest 10 per cent of the population is negatively related to urbanization. The lowest deciles of the population eat much less than average. The per consumer unit of calorie intake by the lowest decile of the population is the lowest in Tamil Nadu and Kerala followed by Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. The current daily status of unemployment influences the food intake of the lowest decile of the population. This rate of unemployment has been on the rise among the poor. Small towns have the most severe problems.
Clean
drinking water is vital for food absorption. Kerala, Mizoram and the other north east states and Orissa have large percentage of households without access to clean drinking water in rural and urban areas. The definition of safe drinking water has to be . made more stringent to cover all cases.
Food-based programmes like the Universal Public Distribution System, Food for Work and Food for Health programmes will have to be implemented. The life cycle approach to nutrition with appropriate schemes for each stage will go a long way in ensuring food security. Employment generation programmes that help the environmental hygiene should be given priority.
In making India hunger-free through the above programmes, science and technology will be immensely useful.
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