food security in India 13.2

Question 1

intro facts:

Answer 1

India accounts for 25% of the worlds hungry people!!
190M under nourished people in India.
1.45 Billion population.

Question 2

about Punjab region:

Answer 2

Northwest
it occupies less than 2%
it makes 2/3 of India’s food grain.

Question 3

Physical challenges in the Punjab:
1) increased temp
2) soil erosion
3) water shortages

Answer 3

Increased temperature: due to climate change:
Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves means that wheat crops have reached their maximum heat tolerance- can reduce crop yields. Extreme events such as floods and droughts also occur.
Soil erosion: when the rain does come its intense and heavy, as the land is hard and baked, there is little infiltration and high levels of overland flow. Results in fertile soil erosion. Meanwhile deforestation and overgrazing exposes the soils to erosion by water and wind.
Water shortages: Punjab’s climate is semi-arid- low rainfall. Unreliable monsoon rains have caused droughts - farmers had to draw more ground water to irrigate crops.

Question 4

human challenges
1) green revolution

Answer 4

1) green revolution: HYV crops introduced to make India self- sufficient and reduce dependence on imports. They were also resistant to heavy rain and wind. HOWEVER - dependant on irrigation and use of chemicals and fertilisers- favoured larger wealthier farmers, it was also damaging for environment. Created a large gap between rural rich and rural poor.
2) government policy: inefficient transport and infrastructure has led to high levels of food wastage.

Question 5

2 impacts of globalisation:

Answer 5

-small scale unable to compete with large scale agribusiness.
-agriculture products increasingly imported into India from AC.

Question 6

2 for the future:

Answer 6

-increased government investment in agriculture.
-appropriate technology- to ensure better management of scarce water supplies.