ASSOCIATION OF STATE-WISE FOOD SECURITY INDEX WITH CLIMATIC FACTORS IN INDIA: EVIDENCE FROM STATE-WISE PANEL DATA

This study generates state-wise food security index (FSI) utilizing using components related to food availability, food stability and food accessibility, thereupon it analyze the influence of climate change on FSI which is used as proxy for food security employing linear, non-linear and log-linear regression models. It complied state-wise panel (during 1985-2009) of selected 13 Indian states. Descriptive results imply that Punjab and Haryana are found most food secure state among all the 13 large agrarian states. Poverty is being the most detrimental factor to achieving food security, and poverty is directly linked with food insecurity in most states. Empirical results show that climatic factors during Kharif and Rabi seasons have a statistically significant influence on FSI. It observes the climate change may increase more food inequalities in India. There is needed to adopt policies to control high population growth, rapid urbanization and overexploitation of natural resource to sustain food security in India. There is also essential to increase irrigation facilities, infrastructure (transport) development, and adoption of modern technology in cultivation. India can maintain food security through increasing food-grain yield, cropping intensity, create more employment opportunities for population to increase their accessibility power to acquire food, provide credit facilities to farmers.