Journal of Food Processing & Technology

India from bagging bowl to food and nutritional security: Problems and opportunities

7^th Indo-Global Summit and Expo on Food & Beverages

October 08-10, 2015 New Delhi, India

R P Singh

ICAR-National Agricultural Science Complex, India

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

In the backdrop of the worst Bengal Famine in India during 1940 when millions died without food, the food situation in India till 1961 was a state of bagging bowl or ship to mouth due to poor production and productivity of main crops with occasional droughts, poor roads, electricity, irrigation system, infrastructure, all this was due to poor and lack of education and research. The country was always under the threat due to increasing population (363.2 ml in 1951 to 1229 ml during 2013). India was showing great signs of collapsing as was predicted by Padak and Padak brothers (US), that India will be doomed in few years and the Mendle and Malthus theory will come true when Indiaâ??s growing population will overtake the agricultural production. There will be starving deaths due to food unavailability. This threatened viability of the social system with drastic effects of environmental and economic implications. India was surviving on PL480 charity wheat and other food item at the mercy of USA; however, with the determination of the Prime Minister, who thought of diminishing honor by living on charity if continued any longer, encouraged the scientist and farmers by giving full support from administration and politicians for increasing food production through grain crops. This was augured up with the help of Dr. N.E. Borlang and his team of around 20 worldwide selected scientists through Rockefeller Foundation as advisors for different crops for higher education and research. This was the first phase of increasing food production started during 1960â??s with the introduction of few dwarf wheat varieties from Mexico during 1963-64 and later on from next year the suitable dwarf varieties were selected in India from the advanced generation material received from Mexico and later developed own varieties in due course of time. Wheat production increased abruptly from 6.5 mlt during 1951-52 to 28.80 mlt till 1975, similarly Rice 20.60 mlt to 48.06 mlt, Maize 1.8 to 7.5 mlt, total cereals 42.41 mlt to 108.00 mlt. During this time the human resource employment was doubled in agriculture sector and the Indian Agricultural Universities Association (IAUA) was established in 1967 with only 9 founder member universities. This was the period from 1965-75 in which 25% of the scientists were send abroad in various developed countries for higher education and expose of their skills to research. In addition to this about 35% of the scientist, were helped through main universities and research institutions in India to upgrade and upgrade their education and research capabilities. The India became self sufficient in food grains within 10 years up to 1975, satisfying very well the needs of the growing population.

Biography :

R P Singh is the Executive Secretary at Indian Agricultural Universities Association, India.

Email: drsinghrp@rediffmail.com