[Points: What is food—what are the problems and the reasons for it—the measures taken to solve the problem—future prospect.]
In the true sense of the term, "food" means eatables that build up the body and supply energy. It, therefore, includes not only cereals but also vegetables, milk, egg, fish, meat, etc. But hitherto the term meant only cereals, and the expression 'food problem' is generally used in our country in this sense.
The principal foods of the Indians are rice, wheat. For many years the country has been deficit in these things, partly because of old methods of cultivation and partly because of frequent floods and drought. The problem has become worse since the partition of the country. The greater part of the cereal producing areas of the land has gone to Pakistan. In fact, immediately after Independence, India's food problem became so acute that the country would have suffered much more than what she did but for generous helps from outside.
But no country can always live upon outside help. The Government of India have been trying to tackle the problem as best they can. Separate Ministries have been created for the purpose both in the Centre and in the States. Various irrigation projects have been taken in hand to irrigate the fields in dry seasons and to control floods. Grow more food' campaigns and Block Development Schemes are teaching the people improved methods of cultivation. Good manures and fertilisers are being supplied at a cheap cost to improve the fertility of soil. The Zemindari system has been abolished to create greater interest among cultivators for increased production and loans on easy terms are given them for implements and purchase of good seeds.
No doubt the results achieved so far are still short of the desired goal. This is due to a great extent to the conservatism of our people and the rapid increase of population. We still follow the food habits of our forefathers. This has to be changed. Rice being in short supply, substitute foods should be tried and wastages should be avoided. Birth-rate also should be controlled. If we do these and the different measures adopted by Government reach the mass, we have every hope India will have no food problem.
