FOOD SYSTEM VULNERABILITYAND

ADAPTIVE CAPACITY ENHANCING OPTIONS

VAISHALI DISTRICT, BIHAR (SITE-4)

7th Feb, 2009 at New Delhi

Gyaneshwar Singh

Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group, Bihar

Email: geag2@sancharnet.in and paramgsingh@gmail.com

Website: www.geagindia.org

Profile of Vaishali DistrictGeo-Graphical:

• Locked By Mountains and Hills of the

Himalayas and Plateau of Jharkhand • Surrounded by River Ganga in South

and Gandak in West.• Topograhy- Chaur ( Low Land Area)• Annual Rainfall -1121 mm. • Drought and Flood Prone Area• Local Climate & Soil Type Favorable

for Rice, Wheat & Maize - Major Cereals

Socio-Economic

• Population: 94 % Rural and 6% Urban • 90% Population have Agriculture as Primary Income

and 64% Population have Migration as Secondary Income

• Per Capital Income = Rs. 3830 is 13% of National Average (in 2006-2007)

• 63% Population Suffering From Poverty• 80% of Population Suffering From Malnutrition

Agricultural

• 90% of Population dependent on agriculture • Small and Scattered Land (Above 90% with 0.37

hectare)• 40% agricultural land is unused • 65% area is occupied by local varieties • 67% area is irrigated• 37% area is sown more than once • 2 % Agricultural growth rate (45% of average Bihar

Ag growth rate)

FOOD SYSTEM & DETERMINANTS:

a. Food Availability Outcome Elements Determinants

Elements

Characteristics of Determinants

Production Yield Low Diversification Low

Distribution Transportation & Infrastructure

Poor and Inadequate ( Now Improving)

Storage facility Poor (Public & Private)

Exchange Market Exchange Mechanism (cash & barter)

Common

Role of Remittance High

b. Food Access Outcome

Elements Determinants of

Elements

Characteristics of Determinants

Affordability Household income Low and inadequate farm income Major share of remittance goes in

loan settlements

Price fluctuation Occurs in disastrous / food crisis period

Allocation Control over production Low (Exploitative Tenancy System) Low purchasing power to meet

domestic expenses

Govt Intervention-re-Market

In-effective Government Functioning

Preference Staple Food Trend: Rice, over wheat, over maize (Coarse to Medium Rice )

Consumption Patterns Increase of Maize Consumption because of possibility of 3 Crops

c. Food Utilization Outcome Elements Determinants of

Elements

Characteristics of Determinants

Nutrition Value

Food Diversity Low and In- Adequate- Diversified Food Consumption Pattern

Source of Primary protein ( pulses and other proteins – milk and fish)

Poor Consumption Level Improved intake during flood

(fish, snails, fauna, spinach, crabs )

Social Value

Social Bonding/Celebration

Determined by Food Availability

Food Safety

Contamination Food Spoiled From Arsenic Ground Water ( 360ppb)

51% of Food Consumed is Spoiled by Flood

Storage Condition Poor in 52% HHs. Affected by flood in 72% HHs

Climatic Variability - Water Stresses • Uncertain, Unequal and Abrupt Rainfall (e.g. onset in

2005 & 2006: Mid of Jeth; in 2007: 3rd Week of Baishakh; in 2008: Ist Week of Baishakh)

• Increase of Soil and Air Temperature in last 10 yrs (based on farmers’ perception of irrigation demand)

• Decreasing Trend of Rainfall In Last 33 Years (1974 to 2007 – Met Office stats)

• Flooding (With Water Logging) & Drought both Common • Severity Trend of Water Stresses- Initially Flood with

Water Logging- then drought- then Flood With Prolonged Water (in 2007 and 2008) (Farmer’ Perceptions)

Vulnerability Assessment of Food System

Food security determinants

GEC stress Sensitivity to water stress

Coping or adaptive capacity

Overall vulnerability

I-Food Diversity [ Nutritional Value ] Food Utilization)

Uncertainty of Rainfall (time & amount)

High Low High (Rainfall Uncertainty)

II- Sources of Primary protein [ Nutritional Value ] Food Utilization

Regular drought and uncertain flood features

High: Low (Milk and Pulses production)

Low(Consume snail, crabs, small Fishes etc)

Medium to High (High in 2007 and 2008)

I- Presence of pathogens, arsenic & fluoride [Safety ] Food Utilization

Flood un-hygienicity

High. Low-(Consume Dry processed food)

High

II- Storage Condition [Safety ] Food Utilization

Flood High. Medium-(Immediate Sale of Produces )

High

Food security determinants

GEC stress

Sensitivity to water stress

Coping or adaptive capacity Overall vulnerability

I-House hold income [ food Affordability ] Food Access

Flood, water logging and drought.

High Medium(high migration,64%), Remittance goes in Loan

High

II- Fluctuation in price [ Food Affordability ] Food Access

Flood & drought

Highly (Low production-

creates dependency on Market)

Low(Sale of assets,}

High (Black market and corruption)

I- Government intervention re- markets [Food Allocation] Food Access

Mainly Flood

HighIneffectiveness of

Government

No cope up Except- low intake of food

High

II-Control over own production[Food Allocation] Food Access

Flood and drought

Medium Low (low quality food and less diversity)

MediumIn-adequate Govt Efforts

I- Sources of preferred carbohydrate [food preference] food access

Flood and drought

Medium Medium-Rice–Wheat–Maize.

High

II- Consumption Pattern (More Protein) [food preference] food access

Flood and Drought

Medium MediumMaize

High

Food security determinants

GEC stress Sensitivity to water stress

Coping or adaptive capacity

Overall vulnerability

I- Food self-sufficiency (household) [ Production ] food availability)

Flood and Drought

HighLow crop

production

Low High37% area is sown more than once

II- Potential for Crop Diversification [Production ] food availability

Uncertain rainfall Sensitive area has potentials for crop diversification

LowLack of information

High

I- Transportation & Infrastructure [Distribution ]food availability

Flood Situation High Moderate to high Medium (Concrete road formation is going on.

II- Storage facilities [Distribution ]food availability

Flood High Medium Eat spoiled food/immediate selling

High

I-Exchange for household food consumption [ exchange] food availability

Flood and drought

Medium(neighbor/

market)

Medium Exchange of food items from markets/ sale of assets for food

High

II- Role of remittance [ Exchange] food availability

Regular trend of flood and drought

High HighHigh migration and daily wages

High

Households’ Perceptions of Their Own Food Security Vulnerability to Water Stresses

Village Highest Vul (Group-1)

Medium Vul ( Group-II)

Lowest Vul (Group-II1)

Ajampura 48% 29% 23%

Baikunthpur 34% 52% 14%

Phulpura 37% 48% 16%Panipur Siloder 36% 46% 18%

Grounds of Classification: Land Holding, Agricultural Production, Economic Status & Wealth, Affordability, Diversified Source Of Income, Remittances, Storage Facilities, Control Over Production, Food Availability, Access And Reach To Government Schemes Etc. ( Data Taken in June,07)

Urgent Demand of Farming Community Towards Adaptation

• Timely Availability of Quality Inputs • Drought & Flood Resistant High Yielding Crop Varieties• Irrigation Facilities• Information on Modern Techniques ( Crop and

Equipments )• Ease Credit Schemes• Alternate Options of Chemical and High Cost of Inputs• Additional Livelihood Options• Government Schemes ( Like NREGA, PDS)

Government Machineries

Private Sector (Ex: Market,

Civil Society Organization

Resource Manager ( Farmers)

Production ( Increase Crop Diversification, Intensification )

Production

Food Availability

Processing & Packaging

( Better Storage )

Distribution & Retail (Improve Road, Transportation )

Consumption ( Safe drinking water

facilities )

Exchange

Preferences

Affordability

Food Access

Distribution

Allocation

Food Safety

Social Value

Nutritional Value

Food Utilization

ACTORS

F.S. OUTCOMES

ACTIVITIES

Adaptation Response Priority

**Thanks**