FAPRI 1997 U.S. Agricultural Outlook

The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute develops a long-term outlook for the world agricultural sector once each year. While the initial steps to develop the new baseline start as soon as the previous year’s baseline is completed, the work begins in earnest in September and October with a discussion of policy and macroeconomic assumptions as well as a review of the models to be used in the upcoming exercise. The preliminary baseline is developed in November and that preliminary baseline is then shared among a number of reviewers. During the first or second week of January, more than 100 respondents are brought together for a two-day review process. Each segment of the baseline is presented and examined in a frank and open exchange of views. Subsequent to that review, the preliminary baseline is finalized

Household food security in an urban slum: Determinants and trends

Introduction: As we are moving from millennium development goals to sustainable development goals, food insecurity is imposing a formidable challenge to the policymakers, especially in developing countries such as India. A survey conducted in the urban slum areas of Vellore district, 6 years back, had reported food insecurity as high as 75%. The current study was a resurvey to assess the food security status in the aforementioned area. Materials and Methods: A community-based survey was conducted in which data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 150 households, selected through multistaged cluster sampling, who had given oral consent to be a part of the survey. The prevalence of food security calculated from this study was compared with the results from a previous survey to look for any significant improvement. Results: Nearly 42.7% of the households were food secure, while 26.7% were food insecure without hunger and 30.6% were food insecure with some degree of hunger. Low socioeconomic status (odds ratio [OR]: 3.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–8.16; P < 0.012) and presence of debt (OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.90–7.73; P < 0.001) were the major risk factors for food insecurity. A comparison with the findings from the previous study has shown a statistically significant improvement in food security from 25.4% to 42.7% (Chi-square: 27.072, df: 2, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Although food security levels have shown marked improvement over the years, much needs to be done for India to be free from the shackles of hunger

FAPRI 1997 U.S. Agricultural Outlook

The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute develops a long-term outlook for the world agricultural sector once each year. While the initial steps to develop the new baseline start as soon as the previous year’s baseline is completed, the work begins in earnest in September and October with a discussion of policy and macroeconomic assumptions as well as a review of the models to be used in the upcoming exercise. The preliminary baseline is developed in November and that preliminary baseline is then shared among a number of reviewers. During the first or second week of January, more than 100 respondents are brought together for a two-day review process. Each segment of the baseline is presented and examined in a frank and open exchange of views. Subsequent to that review, the preliminary baseline is finalized.</p