Impact of Climate Sensitivity on Food Security in India and Thailand: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This study makes a comparative analyses of the food security situation of 13 Indian states for time period of 1985-2009 and 56 Thai provinces for time period of 2008-2011. For India a state wise analyses and for Thailand a province wise food security index is estimated. The index is determined by its key factors and subsequently the impact of climatic and non-climatic factors on constructed food security index is estimated. The food security index is based on major components including availability, stability, and accessibility of food. The index for both countries is estimated utilizing panel data analysis. To create food security index, 26 and 18 key factor of food security were used for India and Thailand respectivley; and simple descriptive method was applied. Empirical results based on Driscoll-Kraay standard errors regression model show that climate variability has negative and statistically significant association with food secuirty index and its components in both countries. Poverty and food security has a cause and effect relationship and vice versa in India. Government expenditure, irriagaed area, increasing application of fertilizers in some pockets and higher participation of literate persons in agriculture could be crucial factors to mitigate the adverse effects of climate variability in India and Thailand. Descriptive results for India show that Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are most agrarian states of country but both are most food insecure regions also due to high incidence of poverty.