ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : NATURAL RESOURCES 69
State Governments and UT administrations were asked to step up enforcement activities
against hoarders, black-marketers and other antisocial elements. During the period from
January, 1990 to March, 1991, a total number of 1,24,885 raids were made, 5,900 persons
were arrested 4,557 persons were prosecuted and goods worth Rs. 1956.65 lakh were
confiscated under the Essential Commodities Act.
Note: Courtesy Research and Reference Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Govt. of India.
CAUSES OF FOOD GRAIN PROBLEMS
The causes of foodgrain problems can be understood under three heads-long term; mid-
term and short-term.
(a) Long-Term Causes
The long term causes of food problem are as under:( 1 ) Population growth
Instant imbalance in supply and demand of foodgrains is consequent to the enhanced
population pressure on the quantity of foodgrains.
( 2 ) Decrease in agriculture output
For various reasons, agriculture output is decreasing day to day.( 3 ) Decrease in Productivity
Due to the afforestation, land abrasion; insufficient manures, defective agricultural
methods defective land tenures have led to decrease in productivity of land. Although new
agricultural policy increased the main crops by times, yet compared to other countries, it is
even less.
( 4 ) Insistence of commercial agricultural
With the growth of importance to agriculture for commercial purposes, to earn immediate
profit production of foodgrains is discouraged.
( 5 ) Natural Calamities
At times, the natural calamities like floods, crops instead of nutritious foodgrains as
the former has richer growth. Consequently there is scarcity of foodgrains.
(b) Mid-term Causes
( 1 ) Position of 1947
With the independence in 1947, the country was sub-divided into Pakistan and India.
The areas with rich agricultural produce went to Pakistan. This led to food crisis in India.
( 2 ) Defective Food Distribution
Food crisis is chiefly due to defective food distribution. Traders and consumers store in
lot when they see that production is less. Hence, crops available in market decrease and
prices soar.