Determinants of Poverty, Food Security & Nutrition

Outline Contemporary problems and Policy Goals: MDGs Asian Enigma Empirical profile Explanations & Policy Solutions Inadequate Economic Access: Poverty Empirical Evidence on Determinants Policy Solutions Poverty, Food & Nutrition Security: Determinants 2

Asian Enigma “In the public imagination, the home of the malnourished child is sub-Saharan Africa. But the league tables clearly show that the worst affected region is not Africa but South Asia. Just over 30% of Africa's children are underweight, but the corresponding figure for South Asia is over 50%. And in Bangladesh and India, the proportion of children malnourished is very significantly higher than in even the poorest countries of the sub- Sahara.” (Ramalingaswamy et al., 2006) 3 Poverty, Food & Nutrition Security: Determinants

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League Table of Malnutrition: Notes The figures for each country indicate the percentage of children moderately or severely malnourished, defined as having a weight-for-age which is more than two standard deviations below the median weight-for- age (using the international standard recognized by WHO). The data are drawn from nationally representative surveys conducted by developing countries between 1990 and 1995 (surveys included Demographic and Health Surveys, National Nutrition Surveys, and other national surveys in which the measurement of anthropometric data was included). 6 Poverty, Food & Nutrition Security: Determinants

Asian Enigma & Explanations Poverty? No, levels of income are the same. Agricultural performance? No, similar levels of per capita food production. Higher child mortality rate in Africa? No, the difference is marginal. Higher inequality? No, Income share of the poorest quintile is much less in SSA than in SA. 7 Poverty, Food & Nutrition Security: Determinants

Asian Enigma & Explanations Vegetarian Diet? No, Milk & milk products are good sources of protein. Policy indifference? No, ICDS in India. Inappropriate Growth Standards? No, Growth curves of children are similar. Possible explanation: Children in SA either not well-fed, or not well-cared-for, or both. 8 Poverty, Food & Nutrition Security: Determinants

Asian Enigma & Explanations Evidence:  Incidence of low birth weight  Level of anemia Myth:  Lack of food only reason for malnutrition Solution:  Good feeding practices  Address poor sanitation due to high population density 9 Poverty, Food & Nutrition Security: Determinants

Poverty & Agricultural Growth Evidence from India

11Poverty, Inequality & Economic Growth: Relation

State Andhra Pradesh Assam Bihar Gujarat* Karnataka Kerala Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra* Orissa Punjab Haryana Tamil Nadu Uttar Pradesh West Bengal INDIA Rural Poverty in India Source: Ahluwalia (1978) 12Poverty & Agricultural Growth

13Poverty & Agricultural Growth

Trends in Rural Poverty in India Source: Ahluwalia (1978) 14Poverty & Agricultural Growth

Trends in Agricultural Production in India Source: Ahluwalia (1978) 15Poverty & Agricultural Growth

Agricultural Growth & Rural Poverty 16Poverty & Agricultural Growth Source: Ahluwalia (1998)

17Poverty & Agricultural Growth Source: Ahluwalia (1998)

Poverty & Food Insecurity: Policy Options Policy options to tackle food and nutrition deprivation differ between rural and urban sectors. Economic access as defined by income and prices largely matter in the urban sector while physical access as defined by production matter in the rural sector in general. Rural sector: Seasonal Price shocks? 18 Poverty, Food & Nutrition Security: Determinants