Food Grain Production in India – An Analysis of Trend and Seasonal Pattern During the Post-green Revolution Period

Abstract

Food grains comprising of cereals, millets and pulses, form the primary and staple food of majority of the population in India. Food grain production in India increased from a low level of 72 million tonnes (1965-66) to 152 million tonnes (1983-84) and touched a peak of 209 million tonnes (1999-2000). Thus it took 18 years to double and another 16 years to treble the production. This increase has put the country from a net food scarcity to food surplus status. In the recent past, favourable monsoons have enhanced the food grain buffer stocks to about 60 million tonnes. However, it is a great concern that due to lack of purchasing power a significant proportion of the Indian population is going hungry to the bed. From the producer's viewpoint, surplus production meant, inadequate market opportunities and discouragement for further continuance of such crops