Inter-Country Comparison of Food Security Schemes: Lessons Learnt

Abstract

Eradication of hunger is one of the important goals listed out in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Most nations identified as vulnerable have taken some action against malnutrition and food insecurity. This paper tries to compile the food security schemes initiated by 12 such vulnerable nations and their impact on food security. The nations have some commonalities like legacy of colonial era, large population living below poverty line, intermittent periods of double digit inflation, high debt burden but no history of debt crisis, etc. Most of these nations have large tracts of semi-arid tropics and hence many face problems of low agriculture productivity. Yet some have been able to achieve very low levels of malnutrition and hunger in their countries while some have been struggling to feed their masses. This paper gives a critical look at what has worked for the successful nations by taking the case studies of government schemes of