Development of multidimensional food security index for Rajasthan, India: A district-level analysis
Surendra Singh Jatav
Abstract
The present study tries to analyze the status of food security and its various components, such as food availability, accessibility, stability, and utilization with the help of a multidimensional index across districts in Rajasthan, India, based on an indicator approach. The results confirm that there is a wide range of inequalities in terms of food security across districts. The Jaipur was found to be the most food-secure in Rajasthan due to relatively higher food accessibility. Conversely, lower food availability and accessibility contributed to the lowest food security in Banswara. Hence, study recommends: (i) diversification from farm to nonfarm activities; (ii) sufficient storage capacity to control price fluctuations throughout the year; (iii) promotion of water management and conservation technologies; (iv) regulation and replenishment of groundwater in rural areas for augmenting cropping intensity; (v) district-specific policies to arrest food insecurity; and (vi) strengthening the coverage of the rural employment program, i.e. MGNREGA.