The Food Security Atlas of Bihar 2018

Bihar has the lowest per capita income and the highest incidence of poverty among Indian states, the report notes. About 89 per cent of its population reside in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture and related activities for their livelihood.

Between 2004-05 and 2013-14, Bihar's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew at a compound annual rate of 9.32 per cent, outpacing the all-India average of 7.59 per cent. From 2011-12 to 2015-16, Bihar's GSDP growth rate was 7.6 per cent, also higher than India’s growth rate of 6.8 per cent during this period. Despite this growth, Bihar's per capita income is the lowest in the nation at only 34.61 per cent of the national average in 2015-16.

Bihar's economic growth improvements are mainly driven by strong growth in registered manufacturing, construction, banking, insurance, and transport/storage/communication sectors – growing at rates above 15 per cent between 2005-06 and 2013-14. In contrast, agriculture and animal husbandry grew at only 6.02 per cent, with agriculture – vital for most residents' livelihoods – struggling with low productivity and offering limited economic impetus to the state economy. 

In terms of ‘food availability’, the districts of Jamui, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Purnia and Kishanganj were identified as extremely insecure. Gopalganj, Begusarai, Paschim Champaran, Bhojpur and Sheohar are identified as moderately secure. Rohtas, Aurangabad, Jehanabad and Sheikhpura are deemed food-secure districts. 

In terms of ‘food access’, Purnia, Paschim Champaran, Banka, Gaya, Katihar, Araria, Aurangabad, Sheikhpura and Sitamarhi were identified as severely insecure and extremely food insecure districts. Patna, Saran and Vaishali are the only secure districts in this category. 

In terms of ‘food absorption and utilisation’, Jamui is the least secure and Arwal is the most secure district. 

The study identifies 5 districts as food secure, 13 as moderately secure, 9 as moderately insecure, 8 as severely insecure and 3 as extremely insecure. Based on the overall food security index, the five districts identified as severely insecure are Gaya, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Supaul and Paschim Champaran. 

Through the inter-district comparison of the Food Security Index between the periods 2008-09 and 2016-17, the report states that southern, south-eastern and north-eastern districts of Bihar including Purba Champaran, Darbhanga, Sheohar, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi and Sheikhpura were consistently food insecure. 

Poverty estimates for 2011-12 indicate that both rural and urban poverty rates were significantly higher in Bihar compared to the national average. In 2013-14, poverty levels among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were also higher in Bihar than the national average.

The study recognizes female literacy, public health, access to sanitation, ratio of working age population, percentage of agricultural labourers and proportion of net irrigated area to net sown area as important policy variables with regards to food security. 

There are significant food grain distribution gaps with respect to the Public Distribution System. The report notes that Below Poverty Line (BPL) households often receive less than their entitlements, while Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households receive more. High exclusion and inclusion errors in BPL and Above Poverty Line (APL) card distribution affect SC households most, with exclusion errors especially high in Central Bihar. 

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), though a vital mechanism for ensuring income and enhancing food security in Bihar, has generated only a limited share of employment opportunities for women and STs. 

The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) also plays a significant role in food security but focuses primarily on the availability of food, overlooking the critical aspect of access to it, the report states.

The food security policy recommended in the study emphasises two main pathways for enhancing food security in the state. The first direction focuses on the 11 variables of food security. The analysis of prioritized districts reveals that 6 to 8 of these variables fall below the state average, indicating specific areas for policy intervention. The five key variables identified for direct improvement through state policies include irrigation, road infrastructure, female literacy, provision of safe drinking water and public health care facilities. These variables can be enhanced through targeted state interventions. 

Additionally, agricultural output, consumption expenditure, and agricultural wage rates can be improved through broader economic policies. Welfare development programs can also address demographic factors such as the percentage of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), dependency rates, and the agricultural workforce.

The report highlights the need for more robust food security interventions, including the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Mid-day Meal Scheme for Children as well as rural road connectivity and rural drinking water programme.

Focus and Factoids by Bidisha Boral.

PARI Library’s health archive project is part of an initiative supported by the Azim Premji University to develop a free-access repository of health-related reports relevant to rural India.