1. FOOD SYSTEM VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTIVE CAPACITY ENHANCING OPTIONS VAISHALI DISTRICT, BIHAR (SITE-4) 7 th Feb, 2009 at New Delhi Gyaneshwar Singh Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group, Bihar Email: geag2@sancharnet.in and paramgsingh@gmail.comgeag2@sancharnet.inparamgsingh@gmail.com Website: www.geagindia.orgwww.geagindia.org

2. Profile of Vaishali District Geo-Graphical: Locked By Mountains and Hills of the Himalayas and Plateau of Jharkhand Surrounded by River Ganga in South and Gandak in West. Topograhy- Chaur ( Low Land Area) Annual Rainfall -1121 mm. Drought and Flood Prone Area Local Climate & Soil Type Favorable for Rice, Wheat & Maize - Major Cereals

3. Socio-Economic Population: 94 % Rural and 6% Urban 90% Population have Agriculture as Primary Income and 64% Population have Migration as Secondary Income Per Capital Income = Rs. 3830 is 13% of National Average (in 2006-2007) 63% Population Suffering From Poverty 80% of Population Suffering From Malnutrition

4. Agricultural 90% of Population dependent on agriculture Small and Scattered Land (Above 90% with 0.37 hectare) 40% agricultural land is unused 65% area is occupied by local varieties 67% area is irrigated 37% area is sown more than once 2 % Agricultural growth rate (45% of average Bihar Ag growth rate)

5. FOOD SYSTEM & DETERMINANTS: a. Food Availability Outcome Elements Determinants Elements Characteristics of Determinants Production YieldLow DiversificationLow Distribution Transportation & Infrastructure Poor and Inadequate ( Now Improving) Storage facilityPoor (Public & Private) Exchange Market Exchange Mechanism (cash & barter) Common Role of RemittanceHigh

6. b. Food Access Outcome Elements Determinants of Elements Characteristics of Determinants Affordability Household income  Low and inadequate farm income  Major share of remittance goes in loan settlements Price fluctuation  Occurs in disastrous / food crisis period Allocation Control over production  Low (Exploitative Tenancy System)  Low purchasing power to meet domestic expenses Govt Intervention-re- Market  In-effective Government Functioning Preference Staple Food  Trend: Rice, over wheat, over maize (Coarse to Medium Rice ) Consumption Patterns  Increase of Maize Consumption because of possibility of 3 Crops

7. c. Food Utilization Outcome Elements Determinants of Elements Characteristics of Determinants Nutrition Value  Food Diversity  Low and In- Adequate- Diversified Food Consumption Pattern  Source of Primary protein ( pulses and other proteins – milk and fish)  Poor Consumption Level  Improved intake during flood (fish, snails, fauna, spinach, crabs ) Social Value  Social Bonding/Celebratio n  Determined by Food Availability Food Safety  Contamination  Food Spoiled From Arsenic Ground Water ( 360ppb)  51% of Food Consumed is Spoiled by Flood  Storage Condition  Poor in 52% HHs. Affected by flood in 72% HHs

8. Climatic Variability - Water Stresses Uncertain, Unequal and Abrupt Rainfall (e.g. onset in 2005 & 2006: Mid of Jeth; in 2007: 3rd Week of Baishakh; in 2008: Ist Week of Baishakh) Increase of Soil and Air Temperature in last 10 yrs (based on farmers’ perception of irrigation demand) Decreasing Trend of Rainfall In Last 33 Years (1974 to 2007 – Met Office stats) Flooding (With Water Logging) & Drought both Common Severity Trend of Water Stresses- Initially Flood with Water Logging- then drought- then Flood With Prolonged Water (in 2007 and 2008) (Farmer’ Perceptions)

9. Vulnerability Assessment of Food System Food security determinants GEC stressSensitivity to water stress Coping or adaptive capacity Overall vulnerabilit y I-Food Diversity [ Nutritional Value ] Food Utilization) Uncertainty of Rainfall (time & amount) HighLowHigh (Rainfall Uncertainty) II- Sources of Primary protein [ Nutritional Value ] Food Utilization Regular drought and uncertain flood features High: Low (Milk and Pulses production) Low (Consume snail, crabs, small Fishes etc) Medium to High (High in 2007 and 2008) I- Presence of pathogens, arsenic & fluoride [Safety ] Food Utilization Flood un- hygienicity High.Low- (Consume Dry processed food) High II- Storage Condition [Safety ] Food Utilization FloodHigh.Medium- (Immediate Sale of Produces ) High

10. Food security determinants GEC stress Sensitivity to water stress Coping or adaptive capacityOverall vulnerability I-House hold income [ food Affordability ] Food Access Flood, water logging and drought. HighMedium (high migration,64%), Remittance goes in Loan High II- Fluctuation in price [ Food Affordability ] Food Access Flood & drought Highly (Low production- creates dependency on Market) Low (Sale of assets,} High (Black market and corruption) I- Government intervention re- markets [Food Allocation] Food Access Mainly Flood High Ineffectiveness of Government No cope up Except- low intake of food High II-Control over own production[Food Allocation] Food Access Flood and drought MediumLow (low quality food and less diversity) Medium In-adequate Govt Efforts I- Sources of preferred carbohydrate [food preference] food access Flood and drought MediumMedium- Rice–Wheat–Maize. High II- Consumption Pattern (More Protein) [food preference] food access Flood and Drought Medium Maize High

11. Food security determinants GEC stressSensitivity to water stress Coping or adaptive capacity Overall vulnerability I- Food self-sufficiency (household) [ Production ] food availability) Flood and Drought High Low crop productio n LowHigh 37% area is sown more than once II- Potential for Crop Diversification [ Production ] food availability Uncertain rainfallSensitive area has potentials for crop diversification Low Lack of information High I- Transportation & Infrastructure [Distribution ]food availability Flood SituationHighModerate to highMedium (Concrete road formation is going on. II- Storage facilities [Distribution ]food availability FloodHighMedium Eat spoiled food/immediate selling High I-Exchange for household food consumption [ exchange] food availability Flood and drought Medium (neighbor/mar ket) Medium Exchange of food items from markets/ sale of assets for food High II- Role of remittance [ Exchange] food availability Regular trend of flood and drought High High migration and daily wages High

12. Households’ Perceptions of Their Own Food Security Vulnerability to Water Stresses VillageHighest Vul (Group-1) Medium Vul ( Group-II) Lowest Vul (Group-II1) Ajampura48%29%23% Baikunthpur34%52%14% Phulpura 37%48%16% Panipur Siloder 36%46%18% Grounds of Classification: Land Holding, Agricultural Production, Economic Status & Wealth, Affordability, Diversified Source Of Income, Remittances, Storage Facilities, Control Over Production, Food Availability, Access And Reach To Government Schemes Etc. ( Data Taken in June,07)

13. Urgent Demand of Farming Community Towards Adaptation Timely Availability of Quality Inputs Drought & Flood Resistant High Yielding Crop Varieties Irrigation Facilities Information on Modern Techniques ( Crop and Equipments ) Ease Credit Schemes Alternate Options of Chemical and High Cost of Inputs Additional Livelihood Options Government Schemes ( Like NREGA, PDS)

14. Government Machineries Private Sector (Ex: Market, Civil Society Organization Resource Manager ( Farmers) Production ( Increase Crop Diversification, Intensification ) Production Food Availability Processing & Packaging ( Better Storage ) Distribution & Retail (Improve Road, Transportation ) Consumption ( Safe drinking water facilities ) Exchange Preferences Affordability Food Access Distribution Allocation Food Safety Social Value Nutritional Value Food Utilization ACTORS F.S. OUTCOMES ACTIVITIES Adaptation Response Priority

15. **Thanks**