Essays

The production of food is one of the primary concernsof the Indian Government. Since there are so many Mouths to feed the quantity of food too have to increase.

Food production in the current year is expected to touch14 million tones which represents an increase of 15million tones over the level achieved in 1982-83. Thisshows a positive trend emerging. Yet India is not totally self-sufficient where food is concerned.

Food has to be imported too. India imported 0.52 million tons in 1981/1.58 million tons in 1982 and 3.73million tones in 1983. The main reason for this is thatIndia depends heavily on the monsoon for good crops.

Often about two-third of the cultivated area fails to getadequate moisture during the cultivation season. Thereal solution of the chronic food shortage lies in the achievement of self defendant food production.

It has been calculated that we need to produce 225million tones by 2000AD to support the population ofIndia. Between 1984 and 2000 we have to be able toproduce 83 million tones more than we alreadyproduce. To improve our food production we need toachieve self-reliance.

This can be done by the help of scientific farming, reducing the prices of fertilizer, land reforms, Subsidiary foods like fish, poultry and vegetables etc. should be promoted. The latest action plans of the Government lay stress on the extension of the areawhere a high yield can be derived from.

Community nurseries for paddy cultivation supplying mini-kits of good seeds and clean water for irrigation can all go a long way in helping with the growth of food production.

In one way or the other, India has to transform her agricultural policy so that in times of drought and Famine, floods and snow, we don't have millions ofIndians starving to death.