How sustainable is food system in India? mapping evidence from the state of Punjab

Abstract

This study attempts to develop a composite index to highlight sustainability of food systems in 22 districts of Indian state of Punjab. The chosen framework for this study conceptualizes sustainable food security as a function of (i) sustainable food availability (ii) sustainable food access and (iii) food utilization. The selected 29 indicators were assigned weights based on principal component analysis. Geographically, the most secured districts were located across the northern parts of the state. Six districts, mostly located in western and southern Malwa region of the state, had low sustainable food security index (0.2937?0.4535). Promoting crossbred adoption and providing off-farm employment opportunities will be imperative for improving sustainable food access in these regions. Increasing female literacy rate by strengthening public education system and improving access of safe drinking water in rural areas are important recommendations for accentuating food utilization capacity across the state. Another important message emerged from the study is that improving food access and utilization capacity is more critical than food availability for improving sustainability of food systems in Punjab.