Providing for the essentials
Reviewed by Rajesh Kumar Aggarwal

Food Security in Asia
by Amitava Mukherjee
Sage. Pages 393. Rs 895

the concept of food security (1970s) is an addendum to the broader concept of right to food (UDHR, 1948). Food security is broadly summed up by the author as a situation where in food is systematically and timely available to all people and such food is within their economic, physical and social access, has requisite nutritious value and is culturally acceptable. Moreover, people should have access to potable water for absorption of food by the body. Divided into seven chapters, the author sets the context and the problematic in the first chapter and discusses the causes for food insecurity in the second chapter.

He argues that due to a slight decline in population growth rate, supply of food increased at a great rate than the demand for food. However, with economic prosperity and increased standard of living, the demand for food, particularly fruits, vegetable and animal protein increased. Such increased consumption of meat, dairy goods and eggs caused additional corn and other grain requirements to be fed to cattle, poultry and other livestock.

Land is disappearing fast due to highways, railways and urban constructions projects. In addition, a large number of factors at macro and micro level (natural disasters, violence and militarism, increased military spending, racism and ethno-centralism, changes in social and professional lifestyles, seasonality of cropping, declining funds for agricultural R&D, vulnerable population including women, girl children and elderly) and speculations in the commodity market are contributing towards food insecurity.

Chapter 3 points out the eight types of food insecurities catalysing vulnerability of women and girl children. These inequalities are based on mortality, natality, basic-facilities, inequalities in special facilities (such as higher education, vocational and professional trainings), professional, land ownerships, intra-household power status structure and seasonality.

Mukherjee advocates starting a gendered green revolution, instituting social protection, setting the fundamentals right, and gender sensitive institutions in place. While discussing the government response to hunger, the author brings out the importance of agricultural biotechnological research, land reforms, relevant trade and fiscal policies including the question of subsidies and food transfer vouchers.

The chapter on community based responses to food security lists usefulness of some community prevalent practices as adopted in selected Asian economies in comparison to market-driven modes of regulations. He argues on social access and social protection in food security and discusses an agenda for food secure Asia. Despite being contextually appropriate, the data in the book is sometimes seems to be based on generalisations without reference to source. Moreover, the reader misses a chapter analysing the major expenditure data on food security by governments and international agencies, and the resultant impact of such expenditure.

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