FOOD PROBLEM IN INDIA

POLICY

1. Adequate food production of cereals, pulses, vegetable oils, sugar, fruits, vegetables, milk, etc.
2. Efficient management of available food supply from surplus areas to deficit areas that it ensures equitable distribution thereof. Tendencies towards hoarding and profiteering should be checked ruthlessly.
3. Intensive research should be conducted increased production of nutritive foods as well as increase in nutrition level of foods.

Poverty is so acute in the country that despite adequate supply of food grains, Food problem in India refers to the minimum supply of food grains to the people at reasonable price. On account of poverty in the country, people do not get minimum supply of food grains. It has many adverse effects on the economy, such as:

1. Health and efficiency of the people are adversely affected, indirectly affecting their contribution to the economy. Poor availability of food grains give rise to the problem of malnutrition.
2. Due to increase in the prices of food grains, there is an increase in the ost of living, cost of production, wages and prices of other things. It has a detrimental affect on economic development. Poor people have to face many hardships.
3. Due to shortage of supply of food grains, they are to be imported. It puts heavy strain on the Foreign Exchange Resources of the country.
4. Shortage of food grains and price rise cause social and political instability. It therefore becomes inevitable that suitable food policy should be adopted in the country.

OBJECTIVES OF FOOD POLICY

The main objective of food policy in India should be the introduction of National Food Security System that in its turn should meet the dietary requirements of all sections of the society. It means satisfying hunger of the people with providing them balanced diet containing all nutritive elements like carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, iron, etc.

1. most of the people do not have the resources to buy the same. It is, therefore, imperative that employment opportunities be increased so that people are able to buy food grains for themselves. Food grains should be made available to the Below Poverty Line people at very reasonable price.
2. People should be given nutrition education extensively. They should become conscious of their diet.
3. Harvesting, stocking and cooking technique should be improved as to minimize the loss of food and nutritive contents.
4. Special nutritional programs should be chalked out to remove nutritional deficiencies. Help from organizations like UNICEF should be taken to more extent.