Food Distribution Value Chains under the Integrated Child Development Services

Globally, social provisioning of food is recognised as an important means to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition. Government food distribution programmes have potential for impact at scale in this context. This article examines the food distribution value chain of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme of the Government of India, targeted at pregnant and lactating women and children below six years of age. Following the conceptual framework outlined in Maestre, Poole, and Henson (2017), the article examines two different models in operation under the SNP value chain in two states of India: Telangana, where a state enterprise is engaged in the manufacture of fortified premix for distribution, and Tamil Nadu, which follows a public–private partnership (PPP) model. The article highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with the two models and attempts to provide insights for designing better delivery under public food distribution value chains.