Addressing Food Insecurity in Rural Rajasthan, India

Seva Mandir operates in the southern part of Rajasthan, one of the least developed states in India. The rural areas where Seva Mandir works are characterized by degraded, over-exploited soils and recurrent vulnerability to drought, and are categorized as severely food insecure. The majority of the population the organization serves depends on subsistence agriculture, small-scale animal husbandry, and low-wage labor, making food security an ongoing challenge for many households. The objective of the workshop was to develop a Food Security Assessment Toolkit. This toolkit assists Seva Mandir to (1) conduct an initial assessment of the food security situation in the villages where they operate; (2) explore the factors both directly and indirectly impacting villagers’ food security situation; and (3) identify changes in food security conditions over time.