ABSTRACT
The food policy and agricultural development strategy adopted by India to improve food security situation paid rich dividends, and the ensuing improvements in food security can be assessed from several angles. The most significant change was the increase in the domestic output of food grains, particularly cereals (Table 20.1). The production of cereals increased from 72.1 million tonnes during the triennium ending (TE) 1964/65 to 130.2 million tonnes during TE 1984/85 and further to 186.4 million tonnes during TE 2003/4. Increase in the production of staple food (cereals) has kept pace with the population growth. Per capita net output of cereals, which had increased from 110.4 kg in 1951 to 130.9 kg in 1964, went up further to 166.1 kg in 1984 and has hovered around that level for the last 20 years.
