Food Insecurity in India’s Agricultural Heartland: The Economics of Hunger in Punjab

India is home to the world’s largest hungry population and has a long way to go before it is anywhere near the mammoth task of achieving the United Nations’ goal of ending hunger in 2030. It is ironic that this book raises the issue of ＂Hunger＂ in a state where it is least expected. Punjab is a state with mountains of food grains and overflowing godowns, with highest yields, and largest area under irrigation. Not only that, it is the Green Revolution state of India, that has played the most prominent role in helping India achieve its goal of food self-sufficiency.

By investigating the hydra-headed concept of food security in Indian Punjab, this book brings to fore the different dimensions of the deprivation of human capabilities and the intricate relationship between food security and economy, ecology, and state policy. Moreover, it is a wakeup call for India; for if, this is the state of affairs in one of the more prosperous primarily agrarian states, what would be the situation in the poorer ones? The primary objective is to divert urgent attention to the issue of food security, as an important ingredient of human resource development. With a strong commitment to achieving the primary goal of human resource development, India’s biggest burden could well become India’s greatest asset in the path to inclusive development.

Harpreet Kaur Narang, Associate Professor, SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University

Dr. Harpreet Kaur Narang has been teaching in SGTB Khalsa College, Delhi University for more than two decades and specialises in macroeconomic policy and development related issues. Her interest lies in economic issues related to public policy, food security, hunger, malnutrition, poverty, inequalities, and development. She has been particularly researching on underdevelopment issues in Punjab. She is a graduate from St. Stephens College, Delhi University and pursued her higher studies from Delhi School of Economics.