Describe the pattern of food availability in rural areas of India shown on the map.

Distinguish between food availability and food security.

Examine how the impacts of diseases are affected by diffusion and barriers.

Award [1] for each valid statement. For the full [4] the response should refer to all levels of availability (very low, low, moderate, etc), though these need not be in equal depth.

For example: High food availability is found in three separate areas [1]: in the north, centre and south-west of the country [1]. The areas of very low/extremely low food availability tend to be the north west and north east of the country [1]. Most of the country has low or moderate food availability [1] including the east coast [1]. Valid use of place names in describing the pattern on the map [1].

Food availability refers to having a sufficient quantity of food [1] available on a consistent basis [1], at an affordable price [1] and may be linked to food security [1].

In addition to food availability, food security (as defined by the WHO) also includes:

• access to food/food entitlement [1] (ie having the resources, economic and physical, to obtain appropriate foods)
• for a nutritious diet [1] and
• appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care [1].

Credit alternative relevant approaches.

For [6] the answer does not need to be balanced but must cover both terms and distinguish between them.

Likely responses will focus on named diseases, eg malaria or HIV/AIDS, or categories of disease, eg water-borne, vector-borne or sexually transmitted. Topical answers may examine the 2014–15 outbreak of ebola in west Africa and the uneven impacts (Nigeria was barely affected due to effective monitoring along its borders).

Diffusion can occur by relocation or expansion.

Different types of barriers include:

• political/administrative boundaries
• relief or water features
• vaccination campaigns.

Good answers may unpack the term “impacts” and may provide a structured examination of different impacts for human health, mobility (travel restrictions), workforce, GDP etc (some of these impacts are likely to be more diffusion-dependent than others, and some are more likely to be barrier-dependent). Another approach might be to examine how the effectiveness of barriers may vary according to the nature of the disease.

For band D, expect either some description of some disease impacts that are mostly related to diffusion and/or barriers, or a description of different types of diffusion and barriers.

At band E, expect either more detailed explanation of relevant impacts of diseases or a structured examination of different types of impacts, diffusion or barriers. 

At band F expect both of these elements.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

This was quite well answered and spatial patterns well described. Weaker answers were more general. Full marks were awarded only if all levels of food availability were referred to.

This question caused many problems. Many candidates were not able to distinguish between food availability and security, and many were confused or too brief. This question was worth 6 marks, and while the answer did not need to be balanced, it had to cover both terms and distinguish between them.

There were some good responses, but many candidates focused on diffusion and barriers without much reference to the impacts on diseases. Some good case studies were included, with the recent ebola outbreak being well used for both diffusion and effect of barriers.