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Economic reform versus food security: Kerala's Gordian knot

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  • M. H. Suryanarayana

    (Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Goregaon (East), Mumbai, India)

Abstract

With high levels of poverty and inadequate domestic food grain production, Kerala has been one of the most food insecure states in India. Its adverse implications, however, have been mitigated through active state government intervention and highly subsidized public distribution system operated under public vigil. As a result, per capita cereal consumption has increased in spite of a decline in domestic cereal production. Yet, about 80 per cent of the population suffer from inadequate calorie intake. The scale of the public distribution system is substantial; but its effective utilization is less than 50 per cent of the potential due to inadequate economic access and poor quality of food grains. Still the system is not sustainable for fiscal reasons. The ongoing adjustment programme has sought to streamline the food distribution programme by reforming its pricing rule and by targeting it only to the poor. The present article examines its implications for food security and social development in Kerala. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • M. H. Suryanarayana, 2001. "Economic reform versus food security: Kerala's Gordian knot," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 13(2), pages 239-253.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:13:y:2001:i:2:p:239-253
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.761
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. George, P. S. (Poykayil Simon), 1979. "Public distribution of foodgrains in Kerala: income distribution implications and effectiveness," Research reports 7, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Kumar, Shubh K., 1979. "Impact of subsidized rice on food consumption and nutrition in Kerala:," Research reports 5, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Mousumi Das & Ajay Sharma & Suresh Chandra Babu, 2018. "Pathways from agriculture-to-nutrition in India: implications for sustainable development goals," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(6), pages 1561-1576, December.
    2. Reshmy Nair, 2011. "Universal to Targeted Public Distribution System," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 5(4), pages 477-510, November.
    3. Matthias Finger & Rolf W. Künneke (ed.), 2011. "International Handbook of Network Industries," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12961.
    4. Madhura Swaminathan, 2008. "Programmes to Protect the Hungry: Lessons from India," Working Papers 70, United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs.
    5. Catarina Figueira & David Parker, 2011. "Infrastructure Liberalization: Challenges to the New Economic Paradigm in the Context of Developing Countries," Chapters, in: Matthias Finger & Rolf W. Künneke (ed.), International Handbook of Network Industries, chapter 27, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. K.N. Nair & R. Ramakumar, 2007. "Agrarian distress and rural livelihoods: A Study in Upputhara panchayat Idukki district, Kerala," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 392, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    7. K.N. Nair, 2008. "Agrarian Distress and Rural Livelihoods A Study in Upputhara Panchayat Idukki District, Kerala," Working Papers id:1321, eSocialSciences.
    8. Patricia Justino, 2003. "Two Faces of Participation: The Story of Kerala," PRUS Working Papers 19, Poverty Research Unit at Sussex, University of Sussex.
    9. Dasgupta, Parasmani & Saha, Rana & Nubé, Maarten, 2008. "Changes in body size, shape and nutritional status of Middle-Class Bengali boys of Kolkata, India, 1982-2002," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 75-94, March.
    10. Masiero, Silvia, 2015. "Redesigning the Indian Food Security System through E-Governance: The Case of Kerala," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 126-137.

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