Food grain production in India
Targets and achievements since independence, projections, sustainable and commercial agriculture.
From shortage to self-sufficiency
At independence India produced only about 50 million tonnes of food grains (1950–51) and depended on imports, including food aid under the American PL-480 scheme. The early Five-Year Plans expanded the cultivated area, built irrigation projects and set up fertiliser plants, but production still could not keep pace with population.
The turning point was the Green Revolution of the mid-1960s. High-yielding, fertiliser-responsive dwarf varieties of wheat (developed from Mexican material bred by Norman Borlaug) and of rice were spread together with assured irrigation, chemical fertilisers, plant protection chemicals and minimum support prices. In India the effort is linked with M.S. Swaminathan. Wheat production rose fastest, especially in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Within a few decades India became self-sufficient in food grains and began keeping large buffer stocks.
Targets and projections
Each plan period set production targets. Some were exceeded, others missed in drought years. Planners project future demand from population growth and rising incomes; because land is limited, extra production must come mainly from higher productivity (yield per hectare), not from more area.
Sustainable and commercial agriculture
- Sustainable agriculture meets present food needs without damaging soil, water and biodiversity for future generations. It uses crop rotation, organic manures, integrated nutrient and pest management and efficient water use.
- Commercial agriculture grows crops mainly for sale and profit, often with high inputs and specialisation (sugarcane, cotton, plantation crops).
The Green Revolution also caused problems: falling water tables, soil nutrient imbalance, loss of traditional varieties and regional inequality. These lessons drive the push for sustainable practices.
Key points
- Food grain output was about 50 million tonnes in 1950–51.
- Green Revolution: HYV seeds + irrigation + fertilisers + plant protection.
- Wheat gained most; Punjab and Haryana led.
- Future gains must come from higher yield per hectare.
- Sustainability means protecting resources for future generations.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the Green Revolution helped all crops equally; pulses and coarse grains gained far less.
- Confusing production (total output) with productivity (output per hectare).
- Assuming commercial farming is always unsustainable; the issue is how inputs are managed.