Food Distribution Value Chain under the Integrated Child Development Services

R V Bhavani,Rohit Parasar

doi:10.19088/1968-2018.105

Abstract

Globally, social provisioning of food is recognised as an important means to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition. Government food distribution programmes have potential for impact at scale in this context. This article examines the food distribution value chain of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme of the Government of India, targeted at pregnant and lactating women and children below six years of age. Following the conceptual framework outlined in Maestre, Poole, and Henson (2017), the article examines two different models in operation under the SNP value chain in two states of India: Telangana, where a state enterprise is engaged in the manufacture of fortified premix for distribution, and Tamil Nadu, which follows a public–private partnership (PPP) model. The article highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with the two models and attempts to provide insights for designing better delivery under public food distribution value chains.

Highlights

One finds that public expenditure in agriculture and the role of the government is central to food safety nets (del Ninno and Mills 2015; FAO 2015a)
If these food distribution programmes are targeted to key groups, such as women and children, they have the potential for impact on nutritional outcomes (GloPan 2014)
2 Methodology The methodology followed for the study comprised: (1) a desk review of literature on food distribution programmes, documents on the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, secondary data on coverage under the scheme in the two states; and (2) primary data collection via key informant interviews with (i) government officials, and (ii) manufacturers of fortified food given as take home rations (THRs); and interviews with a sample of actors at the lower end of the value chain such as anganwadi1 workers (AWW) at the ICDS/anganwadi centres (AWCs) and consumers

Summary

Introduction

One finds that public expenditure in agriculture and the role of the government is central to food safety nets (del Ninno and Mills 2015; FAO 2015a). Public distribution of food through social protection measures is an important source of nutritious food for poor people in some developing countries. If these food distribution programmes are targeted to key groups, such as women and children, they have the potential for impact on nutritional outcomes (GloPan 2014). Food distribution programmes can be seen as a potential post-farmgate agri-food value chain pathway through which poor and vulnerable. Henson and Humphrey (2015) and Maestre et al (2017) bring in this focus, by linking the agri-food value chains with the households that consume the food, using a post-farmgate or markets perspective Researchers agree that focus on consumers has been largely missing in value chain development (Gelli et al 2015). Henson and Humphrey (2015) and Maestre et al (2017) bring in this focus, by linking the agri-food value chains with the households that consume the food, using a post-farmgate or markets perspective

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion