Higher Food Prices

GS-Paper-3 Economy Inflation (Mains)

Recently, the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition in New York conducted a study titled “Pandemic Prices: Covid-19 Price Shocks and their Implications for Nutrition Security in India”. It analysed prices of cereals (wheat and rice) and non-cereals (onion, tomatoes, potatoes, five pulses and eggs) in 11 tier-1 and tier-2 cities from 1^st March-31^st May 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Following the lockdown, all food groups witnessed a rise in prices, but the rise in prices was higher for non-cereals compared to cereals.
After the lockdown was lifted, prices of cereals and non-cereals stabilised quickly while those of protein-rich pulses continued to remain high.

Data Analysis:

Wheat and Rice: Retail prices were either stable or cheaper than the weeks preceding the lockdown and last year.
Potato, Onions and Tomatoes: The prices went high initially but later on stabilised. Onion prices went as high as 200-250%.
Eggs: The prices fell initially (because of fear of coronavirus through poultry) but increased by March-end and then stabilised two months later.
Pulses: The prices rose during the lockdown and continued to remain higher than the pre-Covid-19 levels.

Concerns: The relative stability in cereal prices and enhanced prices of pulses will most likely distort spending and consumption decisions resulting in a staple-based, protein-deficient diet hampering the food security in the country. The relatively higher prices of more nutritious food make it difficult for the poor and marginal population to access such nutrient-rich food. As a result, the proportion of such foods in the diets goes further down and is replaced by less nutritious and calorie-dense foods. It will worsen the nutritional status of women and children across India, and more so in the impoverished regions of the country. The study also criticised the amendment to the Essential Commodities Act,1955 which deregulated cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potatoes.

Suggestions:
The government can ensure the provision of supplementary protein by timely interventions to stabilise the increase in prices.
Policies that insulate non-staple supply chains from price shocks and fluctuations are necessary.
Abolishing outdated restrictions to address farm sector bottlenecks is very important.

Food and nutrition security is ensured if all of the citizens of a nation have enough nutritious food available, all of them have the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality and there is no barrier to access to food. The right to nutritious food is a well-established principle of international human rights law. It has evolved to include an obligation for state parties to respect, protect and fulfil their citizens’ right to food and nutrition security.

Source: TH

Join Our Telegram

CHRI Report on Slavery

Aerial Seeding in Haryana

World bank logistic performance index 2023

28 Apr, 23
SHARE

World bank logistic performance index 2023 India is now ranked 38th out of 139 nations in the Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023 of the World Bank. From its previous rankings of 44th in 2018 and 54th in 2014, this is a notable improvement. Earlier, the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) Report 2022 was published by the Mini

Smuggling of Gold

28 Apr, 23
SHARE

Smuggling of Gold Airports discovered more than 63% of this illegal gold. The Department of Revenue Intelligence recently conducted the Golden Dawn Operation across India, seizing 101.7 kg of illegal gold valued at Rs 51 crore. Despite the fact that India receives a legal import of about 800-1,000 tonnes of gold each year, the illicit mar

India-Thailand Relations

27 Apr, 23
SHARE

India-Thailand Relations Both parties expressed satisfaction with the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation at the 8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue, which was held in Bangkok, Thailand. Cultural ties and mutual cooperation that have been shaped by thousands of years of lasting historical and cultural ties characterise India and Thailand

Translocation of Elephants

27 Apr, 23
SHARE

Translocation of Elephants The Kerala government's appeal of the order of the Kerala High Court is rejected by the Supreme Court. The Kerala government's appeal against the Kerala High Court's directive to move Arikomban (Wild Elephant), the "rice tusker" of Munnar, to the Parambikulam tiger reserve was recently dismis

Global Buddhist Summit

26 Apr, 23
SHARE

Global Buddhist Summit In order to improve diplomatic and cultural ties with other nations, the Ministry of Culture recently organised the First Global Buddhist Summit 2023 in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). About the summit "Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis" is