Food Security Management for Tribal Communities of India: Problems and Strategies

India’s tribal population or indigenous population (IP) faces significant food security challenges. This review article examines the problems, challenges, and solutions related to food security among certain tribal populations of India. It discusses the cultural significance of traditional food systems, the impact of urbanization and industrial agriculture, and the need for community-led initiatives to promote food sovereignty. This updated review also aims to understand the food security in the backdrop of recent environmental changes as indigenous people’s livelihood and food security are weather-driven and have to be keenly observed for any change in the same. Ecological change and severe events may exacerbate the vulnerability of indigenous populations. It is worth mentioning that the main challenges which are already encountered by the poor IP include economic and political exclusion, abuse of human rights, unemployment, discrimination, and resource depletion. In the review, it was also observed that the residents of this specific community were further compelled to transfer and live in the areas where their ancestors had a site for thousands of years to minimise the detrimental effects. It affects their social capital, food security, water supply, sanitary conditions, mental health, and ability to fight off infectious diseases and injuries, and the availability of healthcare directly or indirectly. It can be concluded that as such ecological changes affect the food security of IP in India, reviving indigenous food systems and encouraging indigenous crops and farming practices can help communities become self-sufficient, economically free, and sustainable. Similarly, community-led initiatives like supporting indigenous-led food sovereignty can promote ecological and cultural sustainability. The government’s actions involving documenting traditional knowledge and preserving and promoting indigenous foods can help address malnutrition and hunger in indigenous communities.