Food Security in India Case Study - F. o. F. Flashcards
Outline the significance of India in terms of food security.
- Rapid economic growth in last three decades
- Millions suffer from poverty
- Previously self-sufficient in wheat
- Extra 17 million people more to feed per year
What is India’s physical geography like?
- Range of environments - mountains, deserts, grasslands, tropical and temperate forests
What are the three main ecological zones in India and where are they found?
- Himalayan mountains, north
- Indo-Gangetic Plain, centre
- Peninsular Plateau, south
What mainly caused the recent decline in food production?
- Poor wheat harvests
Which region is significant in regards to rice and wheat production in India?
- Punjab region, northwest
Why is the Punjab region so important in terms of India’s food production?
- 2% country’s land area
- Produces 2/3 food grains
- Mainly wheat + rice
What was the Punjab region formerly referred to as?
- ‘The bread basket of India’
What are the main physical challenges faced by the Punjab region?
- Water shortages
- Climate change
- Soil erosion
Outline the Punjab’s climate.
- Semi-arid
- Mean annual precipitation is 630mm
- Mean temperature is 21ºC
- Divided into 3 seasons
What are the three seasons of the Punjab’s climate?
- Hot season (April - June)
- Rainy season (July - September)
- Cold season (October - March)
Approximately how much of the Punjab’s rainfall occurs in the rainy season?
- 70%
How have monsoon rains impacted farming in the last 15 years?
- Unreliable rains
- Frequent droughts
- Farmers had to draw on groundwater to irrigate crops
- Decline in water table
Approximately how much of the ground water sources in the Punjab region have been overexploited?
- 80%
How have farmers attempted to access more water due to the shortages?
- By digging ever-deeper wells
- Buying extremely expensive equipment to drill them
How has the financial strain of digging deeper wells impacted farmers?
- High suicide rates
- Many leaving agriculture
What is the main facet of climate change that has impacted farming in the Punjab region?
- Rising temperatures
How have increased temperatures impacted wheat crops?
- They’ve reached their maximum heat tolerance
- Increased vulnerability reduces yields
What are some of the extreme weather events that occur more often now due to climate change?
- Floods
- Droughts
What were the impacts of increased extreme weather events on water sources in the Punjab?
- Exacerbates fall in water table
How does soil erosion often occur in the Punjab?
- Rainfall intense and heavy
- Little infiltration
- Much overland flow
- Erosion of fertile topsoil
How much of rainfall in Punjab is lost due to run-off?
- 40%
How have other factors, such as deforestation and overgrazing, impact soil erosion?
- Exposes soil
- Erosion by water and wind
What are the main human challenges faced by the Punjab region?
- The Green Revolution
- Government policy
- Globalisation
