Food security and Africulture

Barriers in Food Security and Sustainability of Agriculture: A Human Right Appraisal
DR. ALOK CHANTIA*, DR. PREETI MISRA**

*Lecturer, Dept. of Anthropology, Sri Jai Narain Post Graduate (KKC) College, Lucknow, U.P.
** Senior Lecturer, Dept of Human rights, School For Legal Studies, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, U.P.

Abstract:

Key Words: Urbanization, Liberalization, Food Scarcity, Human Right, Sustainable Development

The right to food is our human right. No living creature can live without food. Urbanization results in construction of buildings, roads, factories, parking places, etc. For all these, land is secured either by diverting agricultural land or by cutting forest. At some places ponds, beaches, lakes and rivers are filled to create land to accommodate the growing population. Sustainable development requires that development should be such which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In India a paradoxical situation exists even after having a large scale of food production, the access to that food by a large section of the population is very poor. Ever since the Green revolution in India, food production has more than doubled, but a growing number of people are unable to meet their basic food requirements. The replacement of native seeds by imported hybrid seeds or cash crops has resulted in more and more exploitation of ground water, since these crops need more water. The over exploitation of the groundwater in turn has resulted in the depletion of ground water level leading to famines and poverty. The high yielding hybrid seeds are vulnerable to pest attacks resulting in more use of pesticides. The indiscriminate use of chemical- based fertilizers, especially subsidized fertilizer, has created an imbalance between the essential mineral contents such as Nitrogen and potassium leading to environmental hazards. The export oriented policy of Indian government has opened up the waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone to MNCs and TNCs for trawling. This resulted in the indiscriminate destruction of the marine eco system and the livelihood of the traditional fishing community. The adoption of the process of liberalization has made certain sections of the people more vulnerable to hunger and deprivation, both because of declining availability of food grains and the shifting of cultivation to commercial crops for exports under the impact of globalization.
The present paper discusses how modern agricultural reforms have created barriers to food security and environmental hazards causing violation of human rights. Paper concludes that we have to balance between sustainability and agrarian reforms so as to ensure food security in general and human rights in particular. We should think again about flora, fauna, land and development schemes around us, if we want to assure our food security.




Barriers in Food Security and Sustainability of Agriculture: A Human Right Appraisal
DR. ALOK CHANTIA*, DR. PREETI MISRA**

*Lecturer, Dept. of Anthropology, Sri Jai Narain Post Graduate (KKC) College, Lucknow, U.P.
** Senior Lecturer, Dept of Human rights, School For Legal Studies, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, U.P.

Abstract:

Key Words: Urbanization, Liberalization, Food Scarcity, Human Right, Sustainable Development

The right to food is our human right. No living creature can live without food. Urbanization results in construction of buildings, roads, factories, parking places, etc. For all these, land is secured either by diverting agricultural land or by cutting forest. At some places ponds, beaches, lakes and rivers are filled to create land to accommodate the growing population. Sustainable development requires that development should be such which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In India a paradoxical situation exists even after having a large scale of food production, the access to that food by a large section of the population is very poor. Ever since the Green revolution in India, food production has more than doubled, but a growing number of people are unable to meet their basic food requirements. The replacement of native seeds by imported hybrid seeds or cash crops has resulted in more and more exploitation of ground water, since these crops need more water. The over exploitation of the groundwater in turn has resulted in the depletion of ground water level leading to famines and poverty. The high yielding hybrid seeds are vulnerable to pest attacks resulting in more use of pesticides. The indiscriminate use of chemical- based fertilizers, especially subsidized fertilizer, has created an imbalance between the essential mineral contents such as Nitrogen and potassium leading to environmental hazards. The export oriented policy of Indian government has opened up the waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone to MNCs and TNCs for trawling. This resulted in the indiscriminate destruction of the marine eco system and the livelihood of the traditional fishing community. The adoption of the process of liberalization has made certain sections of the people more vulnerable to hunger and deprivation, both because of declining availability of food grains and the shifting of cultivation to commercial crops for exports under the impact of globalization.
The present paper discusses how modern agricultural reforms have created barriers to food security and environmental hazards causing violation of human rights. Paper concludes that we have to balance between sustainability and agrarian reforms so as to ensure food security in general and human rights in particular. We should think again about flora, fauna, land and development schemes around us, if we want to assure our food security.