Food Production Introduction

One of the primary objectives of agriculture is to produce food. In the entire history of agriculture, food production has remained a prime objective.

Human food needs have undergone many qualitative and quantitative modifications in the last 50 - 100 years. Mainly, the quantity of food required has grown in geometric proportion in line with geometric growth in human population. The challenge of adequate food production for fast growing human population is one of the prioritised agenda of entire world. Besides quantity, the types of food consumed by human beings have changed substantially. Affluent population prefer to eat less in more varieties and novel tastes. Poorer population eat more food of fewer types. Cultural bindings have deep rooted impacts on food habits of people.

The qualitative deterioration of per capita food consumption in most developing countries is the main concern of most global organisations. Severe protein malnutrition, chronically energy deficient food, vitamin deficient food have remained elusive challenges in most developing countries.

Study of food production in world - in general, and in India - in particular is greatly useful.