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Urban Harvest: Karnataka


Issues

With rapid urbanisation, the epicentre of hunger and food insecurity is rapidly shifting towards the urban region. Karnataka’s poverty rate in the urban area stands at 15.25%, which is higher than the national average of 13.7%. Those in poverty are typically faced with food insecurity, making hunger a pervasive issue in Karnataka despite its economic growth in recent years.

  • Nutritional Deficiency and Food Security: In the state of Karnataka, nutritional deficiency and food security remain critical issues, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like children and marginalized communities. Inadequate access to diverse and nutritious food, along with challenges in distribution and affordability, contribute to malnutrition and food insecurity. This issue is exacerbated by socio-economic disparities, lack of awareness about balanced diets, and uneven resource allocation in various regions of the state.
  • Urbanization and Disrupted Food Systems: As urbanization accelerates in Karnataka, the state faces the challenge of ensuring equitable access to quality food for both urban and rural populations. Rapid urban growth has disrupted traditional food supply chains, leading to reduced agricultural land and increased dependency on external food sources. This often affects rural farmers' livelihoods and reduces the availability of fresh, locally produced foods in urban areas, thereby perpetuating food inequity.
  • Climate Change and Agriculture: Karnataka is an agrarian state that depends largely on agriculture for its economy and food security. However, climate change poses a serious threat to the agricultural sector and the food security of the state. Monsoons in the region, spurred by global warming, have been highly detrimental to crop production, soil quality, water availability, pest infestation, and crop diseases. These factors have reduced agricultural productivity and income, and increased food prices and food insecurity. Currently, Karnataka--like other Indian states--is undergoing a rice crop crisis due to inclement weather conditions.
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    Our Plan

  • Donations: Money raised domestically and internationally undergo a strict budgeting process before being used for our food distribution services in Karnataka. Small amounts of money can go many ways; just like our other intiatives, the team at Food Equity ensures that even a dollar can deliver several meals to recipients. Our Karnataka chapter addresses the needs of metropolitan residents in cities like Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) and Mangalore. We also send extra money to our distribution partners in poverty-ridden villages like Bettakote.
  • Education: We firmly believe that tackling hunger extends beyond traditional charity. To this end, education is at the forefront of our mission. In close collaboration with our partners in Bangalore, we have launched educational campaigns aimed at equipping local residents with essential nutritional knowledge. Our objective is to cultivate lasting awareness of self-reliance in matters of food. By imparting knowledge, we empower individuals to make informed choices about their nutrition and food security.
  • Equity.AI: Our commitment to efficiency and impact drives us to harness the power of data and machine learning through Equity.AI. We collect and analyze data from Bangalore to determine the most optimal method for distributing our resources. This data-driven approach ensures that every dollar is maximized, allowing us to reach more people and provide essential meals.
  • Sustainability In addition to our core initiatives, we are committed to promoting sustainability by educating individuals on gardening and implementing mass public planting initiatives using a unique method called "seed balling." A seed ball is a pre-planted seed wrapped in a mixture of clay and compost. This approach empowers even novice gardeners to easily grow their own vegetables, fostering self-sufficiency and contributing to food security in Karnataka.

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