Measuring and mapping the state of food insecurity in Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Food insecurity is a global issue that persists at various scales and intensity. It is linked to irregularity or uncertainty of food, water and fuel and can develop under the influence of multiple factors. Food availability, accessibility, consumption and stability are the four broad dimensions of food security. This paper analyses the relationship between these four dimensions and food insecurity for 33 districts in Rajasthan, India, using the data collected from the published documents, periodicals and websites of the government or other authentic sources. To analyse the link between these four dimensions, several indicators were taken into consideration. The collected data was used to rank the districts based on their level of food insecurity. Thus, the results include categorization of the districts into four zones based on the values of the variables. The results are presented through maps, which show the spatial distribution of food insecurity. It can be concluded, that the districts of Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Rajsamand, Dhaulpur and Jalore have a very high level of food insecurity.