Agriculture remains the foundation of India’s food security system and rural economy. The traditional notion of the farmer as Annadata (food provider) signifies cultural respect, yet policy frameworks have often confined farmers to the margins of centralized procurement and market systems. In the contemporary context of Atmanirbhar Bharat, there is a renewed need to reposition farmers as empowered stakeholders within decentralized and resilient food systems. This paper critically examines the interface between agriculture development and the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India, with particular emphasis on the potential of local procurement to strengthen food security, enhance farmer incomes, and promote sustainable rural development. Drawing inspiration from the rural economic vision of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which emphasized cooperative institutions, village self-reliance, and decentralized planning, the study argues for restructuring the PDS to integrate locally produced crops such as millets, pulses, and region-specific grains. The paper is empirically grounded in primary data collected from 430 respondents across two blocks and four villages in Kalahandi district of Odisha, a region historically associatedwith poverty and food insecurity despite possessing significant agricultural potential. The findings reveal high dependence onthe PDS among vulnerable households and strong local support for incorporating locally grown produce into the distribution system.
Dr. Bijaya Kumar Behera Dr. Bijaya Kumar Behera (Wed,) studied this question.