This study examines the composition of food grains production in India during 1950-51 to 2002-03, both at aggregate and disaggregate level and demonstrates that cereals, including rice, wheat and coarse cereals have indicated the growth rate of 48.93 during 1950-51 to 2002-03. Among cereals, the production of rice recorded major growth when compared to wheat and coarse cereals. This paper discloses that the production of pulses has indicated a dissatisfactory picture with frequent fluctuations. State-wise analysis of food grains in India recorded some interesting results during the period under consideration. Among 28 States, Andhra Pradesh maintained supremacy in the production of rice. Uttar Pradesh remained on the top in the production of wheat and pulses. In the production of coarse cereals, Maharashtra occupied the top place. The per capita availability of cereals per day has been maintaining the required levels. But the per capita availability of pulses per day has been lower than the average daily requirement of 67.95 grams per head during the study period. However, the study indicates a warning signal of scarcity in the production of pulses. It also demonstrates that net availability of cereals is not adequate to meet the growing needs of the growing population. Hence, the importation of food has become inevitable in India. The authors suggest certain measures to solve the imbalances in the production of food grains and to improve the per capita availability of food in the country.

Agriculture forms the backbone of the Indian economy. It provides employment to 65% of the total work force in the country. By supplying important food grains, including cereals and pulses to the people, agriculture has been playing a crucial role in the process of economic development of the nation. In this context, it would be highly appropriate to recollect the various tragedies of food scarcity in our country. The first food disaster happened in 1943 when the British ruled India. Almost four million people died of hunger in the disaster known as the Bengal famine, due to acute shortage of food production in India. Noble Laureate in Economics, Amartya Sen, pointed out that giving a low priority to food production was the root cause for the worst catastrophe in the pre-Independence era. This bitter experience made the Indian economy focus on the production of food after the independence, especially with the introduction of the first year plan.

As we have not achieved successful results from the objective of self-sufficiency, the Government of India has decided to launch the green revolution exactly after 20 years of independence, i.e., from 1967 to 1978. By expanding the area under cultivation of food crops,by introducing the double cropping system and High Yielding Variety seeds, the green revolution has achieved successful results. Achieving self-sufficiency in the production of food grains is not enough, it is also equally important to attain food security. The country also insists on the provision of minimum quantity of food grains to the entire population of the country.