Food and Population Problems in India

Abstract

Discussion focuses on 2 important problems in India namely the interrelated problems of food and population growth. If the population grows at a faster rate than food production there will be shortages and famines. Marked increases in food output can feed the people and possibly leave a surplus for future periods of scarcity. To deal with the population problem an integrated rural urban policy is needed. More emphasis must be placed on problems in rural areas where 77% of Indias population lives. Half of the countrys national income comes from the agricultural sector. If socioeconomic growth is to be bolstered foundations must be laid in the rural sector. If socioeconomic growth is to be bolstered foundations must be laid in the rural sectors. The future of India depends on progress in villages. Thus the government must give priority to rural development. The present government spends too much time and money on improving the lot of the urban middle classes. The rural sector could be helped by the establishment of heavy industries in selected country areas and by the development of agriculture and expansion of productive activities and employment opportunities. Family planning programs need to be more extensively implemented. A radical change in the approach to population planning could stem the tide of economic stagnation and proverty. Food is not a new problem and is a legacy from the colonial period. Much of the difficulty was related to the poverty of the rural masses. This in turn was the direct result of excessive land revenue charges. When the British first came to the Indian continent the food situation was tolerable. The partition of India in 1947 aggravated the food situation as new elements were added to food production and distribution problems after independence. The development of agriculture and an increase in food production can be seen as desirable objectives for all underdeveloped nations. Comprehensive agricultural planning was initiated by India in its 1st 5-year plan in 1951. Despite problems the production of foodgrains has grown at a more or less steady rate since the beginning of the planning period. Food grain production increased during the 1st plan period at the rate of 4.4% during the 2nd plan period at 4.5% and 2.1% during the 3rd plan period. Population has been increasing at an average annual growth rate of 2.5% during this period. The new agricultural strategy came into operation in 1966 and helped by favorable climate conditions the food grain production in 1967-68 reached an all time record of 95.6 million tons. Although in 1970-71 food grain output reached a new record level of 108 million tons the impact was lost as production declined over the next 3 years because of irregular rainfall. The 5th 5-year plan ran into immediate trouble because of the oil crisis. With population increasing and food production stationary food will continue to be a major national problem.