The Groundnut and the Food Crisis

Abstract

Among the many causes that have contributed to the present food crisis, the insidious encroachment of commercial crops, on the acreage of food crops, is undoubtedly one of the most important. Though the encroachment has been going on for more than three decades its effect in food production was felt acutely only during the war, when imports of rice from Burmah and other countries were cut off. Active Government propaganda had to be done to curtail the acreage under money crops, and sometimes even by temporary Government enactments. It remains to be seen, how far the temporary success attained by these measures will endure, when favourable conditions for imports of food grains return.