India’s Food Output Increasing

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31585, 24 January 1968, Page 12

India’s Food Output Increasing

India shows encouraging signs of overcoming its food problems, according to an Australian agricultural scientist, Professor J. R. A. McMillan, president of his country’s Freedom From Hunger Committee, who recently visited Ceylon and India.

“I was most encouraged by what I saw and heard,” said Professor McMillan, retired Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Sydney University, in Christchurch yesterday. “There are signs that the country is getting over its difficulties in food production.” Reasons for this were that 18 months ago the Indian Government had changed its programme to give first priority to agriculture. There had also been increasing emphasis on fertiliser, with a resultant increase in production. “Farmers generally know of the advantages of fertilisers, and are using them and demanding more,” Professor McMillan said. Increases of up to 50 per cent in yield had resulted from their use, and production had gone up 10-fold over the nine years in one district. The Government estimated the demand at a million tons more than could be supplied. Companies estimated more than this.

Professor McMillan said he had seen a well-fertilised and Irrigated farm In India of 40 acres that any Australian would be proud of. If the use of fertilisers could be continued, the increased production would overcome deficiencies in cereals and grain. The price of rice had been further increased as a further incentive to farmers to get out of trouble. India’s family - planning scheme was making some impact, Professor McMillan said. In one area, a young farmers’ group has arranged for 135 men to be sterilised. A gigantic task was faced, however, when it was realised that of a population of 500 m, 125 m were women of childbearing age. But, as with agriculture, it was right in the forefront. Efforts were also being made to make more water available for farming, and as well as darns, there were big areas of underground water Professor McMillan visited India on his return from world conferences of the Freedom from Hunger movement and the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome at the end of last.year. Asked what role developed countries such as New Zealand and Australia could take in helping India, Professor McMillan said there should be more demonstration and education programmes for farmers, and help in setting up more fertiliser factories in the country.