Question

Do you think it is important for India to be self-sufficient in food grains
production? Discuss.

SCERT Telangana Class 9 Social Studies Ch 6 Agriculture in India

Answer 1

India is one of the countries that have experimented with a broad spectrum of programs for improving food security. It has made great progress by giving priority to self-sufficiency in food grains and through procurement and public distribution of food grains, employment programs etc. Despite a significant reduction i the incidence of poverty, chronic food insecurity still persists ina large section of India's population. We have solved the problem of food security at the national level by having mounting buffer stocks. Still, there are millions of undernourished and food insecure people in India. Our limitation is food distribution and not food supply. Careful consideration of food security requires that we should look beyond food availability and recognise the low incomes of the poor people. We also need to recognise the choices that regions and households face, including exploitation of natural resources when incomes fall short. Malnutrition related diseases exhaust lot of our human resources. Productivity generated through technological innovation especially in rural areas and vibrant rural non-farm sector hold the key to put an end to food insecurity.

Answer 2

Answer:

Yes, India should be self-sufficient in food grains, because Food Corporation of India (FCI) was formed by the Government to purchase food grains from the farmers and store them. It stocks food grains and supplies to ration shops and other government schemes like midday meals in schools.